Beat 1733

beyondthevalley.com.au

JENNIFER MILLS

9 AUGUST – 16 NOVEMBER 2025

BUNJIL PLACE GALLERY

Jennifer Mills & Darcy Luker, 2 Harveys break time 2024, watercolour and pencil on paper, 42.0 x 54.0 cm Courtesy of the artist and Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney

PRINT EDITOR

Kaya Martin

EDITOR

Lucas Radbourne

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Frankie Anderson-Byrne

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Riley McDonald

GIG GUIDE

Jacob Colliver

CONTRIBUTORS

Molly England, Bryget Chrisfield, Oliver Winn, Andrew Handley, August Bill and Wil Clifford

FOR ADVERTISING OR SPONSORED CONTENT ENQUIRIES advertise@furstmedia.com.au

ACCOUNTS accounts@furstmedia.com.au

DISTRIBUTION distribution@furstmedia.com.au

PUBLISHER

Furst Media Pty Ltd

FOUNDER

Rob Furst

SOCIALS

EDITORIAL NOTE

Things change fast in this modern world, and especially in a city as audacious as this one.

Æ And especially especially in spring, the season of holiday festival lineup drops, emerging talent incubators and unbelievably juicy market-fresh citrus.

In case you’ve been out of the loop, big things are happening. For example, they’re trying to make the Yarra swimmable again. To that, we say anything’s swimmable if you’re brave enough (and well stocked with antibiotics).

What else, you ask? Well, Fringe is on the horizon, set to spread sequins, feathers and performing arts prowess all across town. Eddy Current Suppression Ring are out of hiding (cue tears of joy) and playing a big free Fed Square bash. John Butler’s set to release the album that made him want to quit music, The Runaway’s starlet Cherie Currie is hitting Australia one last time and Californian duo The Army, The Navy are dishing out soul-stirring harmonies on their debut run.

All we’re saying is that you better hold on to that ratty bleached baseball cap, because this one’s gonna take you on a wild ride.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS

Our magazine is published on the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation, and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

DISTRIBUTION

Beat Mag will be distributed free every month to hundreds of locations around metro Melbourne, to enquire about having it at your venue email distribution@furstmedia.com.au

COVER

Our September cover stars are A Daylight Connection shot by Gregory Lorenzutti.

BEYOND THE VALLEY RETURNS FOR LEGENDARY 10-YEAR SUMMER PARTY

Beyond The Valley (BTV) is turning 10 and going absolutely massive for the milestone bash. The epic celebration runs from 28 December to 1 January at Barunah Plains. This multi-day festival has become the stuff of legend among Aussie summer events, pulling in tens of thousands of punters every year.

TRIPLE R RADIOTHON RETURNS WITH EPIC PRIZES AND LIVE PERFORMANCES

Melbourne’s Triple R FM is running its annual subscription and donation drive this month. Radiothon 2025: Digging Deeper runs until 5pm 24 September, celebrating listener support with special programming, guest appearances, live performances and a prize draw for all subscribers.

ST KILDA FESTIVAL HEADS BACK TO THE BEACH THIS FEBRUARY

Australia’s biggest free music festival returns on 14 to 15 February 2026, bringing two days of live music, family activities and community celebrations back to St Kilda’s beachfront venues. It kicks off with First Peoples First, featuring First Nations artists across two stages, before continuing with Big Festival Sunday showcasing Australia’s best live music performers.

APRA AMCOS WANTS TO GIVE YOUR MUSIC CAREER A $10,000 BOOST

APRA AMCOS’ Professional Development Award is filling the gap between passion and practice with 13 recipients each awarded $10,000 to develop their art across a range of categories. Entries are open now until Tuesday September 23 at 5pm AEST.

THE CROXTON IS HOSTING A TWO-DAY BLOCK PARTY LED BY SPIDERBAIT AND TFS

Melbourne’s beloved Croxton Bandroom has unveiled The Croxton Block Party, a massive two-day festival taking over the carpark opposite the venue on 1 and 2 November. The stacked lineup includes Tropical Fuck Storm, Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Spiderbait, Ratcat, Floodlights, Party Dozen and Grace Cummings.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL GAMES WEEK AND BIG GAMES NIGHT OUT RETURN

Next-level gaming experiences are coming to the city from 4 to 12 October, led by Australia’s largest free gaming festival – Big Games Night Out – on 9 October at Fed Square (including the new family-friendly Little Games Night Out).

WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ AND BLUES BALANCES TRADITION WITH DISRUPTION

The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues is back for its 35th outing from 31 October 31 to 3 November. Events are spread across 11 venues in the rural city, and the program includes everything from slick traditionalists to adventurous innovators.

RISING EXTENDS SWINGERS UNTIL SEPTEMBER AFTER SELL-OUT SUCCESS

RISING has extended its hit exhibition Swingers — The Art of Mini Golf until 21 September. The playable art exhibition, which has taken over the entire upper level of Flinders Street Station, was originally scheduled to close on 31 August but has been given a three-week extension due to popular demand.

AT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDANTLY RUN MUSIC VENUE

18/10 OCEANO (USA) 22/10 SHANE SMITH & THE SAINTS SOLD OUT 24/10 PAVLOV’S DOG SELLING FAST 25/10 SETH SENTRY 26/10 MATT HANSEN SELLING FAST 31/10 BOOM CRASH OPERA + MODELS SELLING FAST 01/11 JAMES REYNE SELLING FAST 02/11 BOOM CRASH OPERA + MODELS (MATINEE)

02/11 BACK IN BACK 45 YEAR CELEBRATION

03/11 JAMES REYNE

04/11 BEN OTTEWELL & IAN BALL PRESENT GOMEZ BY REQUEST SELLING FAST

14/11 SKUNKHOUR

21/11 LIZ STRINGER

22/11 ONSLAUGHT (UK)

27/11 THIRSTY MERC

30/11 SEVENTH WONDER: THE FLEETWOOD MAC SHOW (MATINEE)

MORE EVENTS

27/09 AFL GRAND FINAL

GIG GUIDE

01/09 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w GIANT HAMMER, MATURE THEMES + GIGI. 05/09 CANTRIPS LIVE 07/09 CORRELLA (NZ) SELLING FAST 08/09 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w MY GIDDY AUNT, HARPER BLOOM + XANDRI 11/09 GUY BLACKMAN 12/09 PEAK PARK 13/09 BERNADETTE NOVEMBRE (AUSLAN INTERPRETED) 15/09 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ EWF TAKEOVER WITH SAHUL SAKTI, ROMÆO, HAND CLAP, L&L: LUCY WILKS & LEONE GABRIELLE + ANTONIO MONTAINE 18/09 MILLY STRANGE

19/09 REB FOUNTAIN 20/09 MUDRAT SELLING FAST 21/09 SCHOOLGIRL BYEBYE (CHN) SELLING FAST 22/09 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w LUCY LORENNE, OH! DAISY + CHLOE BOOTH

25/09 CHITRA

26/09 KING MISSILE (USA)

27/09 JUNE JONES

29/09 ‘SOCIAL SANCTUARY’ w THE GENEVIEVES, GOLDMINDS + HARD RUBBISH

01/10 BRAD COX SOLD OUT

03/10 PORPOISE SPIT

04/10 BLUSH’KO

10/10 SHAWN JAMES SOLD OUT

11/10 EXPOSURE 2025

14/10 VINCENT NEIL EMERSON (USA) 15/10 NIKKI LANE

18/10 SALT TREE

25/10 ZINDZI & THE ZILLIONAIRES (FAMILY FRIENDLY MATINEE)

25/10 AMAYA LAUCIRICA

26/10 SMITH & COHEN (AKA SODASTREAM - MATINEE)

MICHELLE

NAZEEM HUSSAIN

ANISA NANDAULA

JUDITH

MEREDITH ANNOUNCES MASSIVE LINEUP FOR 33RD EDITION

The independent festival returns to the Supernatural Amphitheatre from 5 to 7 December with an eclectic mix of international headliners and emerging talent. Meredith Music Festival continues its reputation for curating genre-defying lineups, bringing together art-rock legends TV On The Radio, Japanese sensation Atarashii Gakko! and acclaimed songwriter Perfume Genius as major drawcards for the threeday event.

HISTORIC MELBOURNE CHURCH JOINS HOLY BOOM OF LISTINGS ACROSS VICTORIA

A historic Melbourne church in Armadale with $5.5 million price hopes joins Victoria’s holy property boom. The heritage-listed Uniting Church at 86B Kooyong Road reflects a statewide trend. Churches across Victoria are selling properties worth millions as congregations shrink.

OPRAH WINFREY ANNOUNCES RETURN TO AUSTRALIA AFTER 10 YEARS

The global media leader announced her first tour of Australia and New Zealand in a decade, bringing her Oprah In Conversation series this December. The intimate speaking engagements promise to deliver Winfrey’s signature blend of inspiration, authenticity and personal reflection to audiences seeking motivation and connection.

HYPERSONIC FESTIVAL LINEUP LED BY ARMIN VAN BUUREN, STEVE AOKI

Melbourne Showgrounds will transform into an electronic music paradise on 30 November, with some of the world’s biggest names in dance music set to perform. Hypersonic Festival 2025 promises to deliver an unforgettable experience as Australia’s summer festival season kicks into high gear.

NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE CALL TIME ON 15-YEAR PARTY WITH FAREWELL TOUR

After 15 years as one of Australia’s most electrifying live acts, Northeast Party House head out on what will be their last ever tour. In celebration of an incredible career they bring their boisterous live show on the road for one more party with fans across the country. They’ll perform at 170 Russell on 28 November.

THIS INNER WEST MELBOURNE SUBURB JUST SCORED ITS FIRST ROOFTOP BAR

Odette House opens as the striking new three-level rooftop venue in Spotswood, Melbourne. The venue combines a breezy cafe, intimate restaurant and rooftop bar. The first rooftop bar in the area, Odette House offers a menu drawing inspiration from Thailand and across Asia.

THERE’S AN ENTIRE NEW MEGA SUBURB BEING BUILT IN MELBOURNE

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has approved the Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan, paving the way for 15,000 new homes, four town centres, eight schools and 13 MCGs’ worth of parks and reserves. Beveridge North West represents one of Melbourne’s largest planned communities, and more than 47,000 Victorians will eventually call it home.

MELBOURNE KINK COMMUNITY TO TURN THE CITY INTO FETISH FESTIVAL PLAYGROUND

The kinkiest festival in Oz brings ten days of exploration, discovery and creativity to Melbourne this October. Oz Kink Fest returns for its 18th year in 2025. The nation’s wildest celebration promises 10 unforgettable days across Melbourne’s iconic venues. The festival celebrates kink, sexuality and alternative lifestyles.

KISS FM FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS BROADCASTING AUTHORITY TURNS UP HEAT

Kiss FM Dance Music Australia in Brunswick needs urgent community support to survive. The local station should be celebrating its 20th anniversary on air, but instead has been forced to reach out for support. The low-powered FM station, operating out of Brunswick, faces potential licence loss after transmitter thefts and equipment upgrade issues.

TOMORROWLAND CORE STAGE CONFIRMS 2026 MELBOURNE DEBUT

The Tomorrowland CORE stage will make its Australian debut in Melbourne next year. The event represents a scaled-down version of the main festival experience. CORE Melbourne will take place on 28 November 2026. The brand focuses on alternative house and techno music in natural settings.

DISRUPTIONS BEGIN AS MELBOURNE AIRPORT THIRD RUNWAY WORKS TAKES OFF

Construction activities are now underway for the Melbourne Airport third runway development and traffic disruptions expected. The new north-south runway will enable parallel operations with the existing runway system, and simultaneous take-offs and landings will reduce delays significantly.

MELBOURNE STAR TO SPIN AGAIN AFTER $11 MILLION DOCKLANDS RESCUE DEAL

The Docklands landmark has remained dormant for more than 1430 days since closing during Melbourne’s COVID-19 crisis in 2021. A consortium led by a Melbourne husband and wife team, alongside US and Swiss companies, will breathe new life into the attraction.

TRANSPORT PUBLIC BAR

UNVEILS ITS NEW WEEKLY LIVE MUSIC SERIES

The live music scene in Fed Square just got a serious weekend boost with Shut Up & Dance Saturdays launching at the Transport Public Bar. Starting 6 September, the venue is rolling out a weekly formula that’s equal parts live music showcase and late-night party destination.

TASH SULTANA KICKS OFF NEW MELBOURNE TINY DESK LIVE MUSIC SERIES

Fitzroy streetwear label HoMie has launched a new live music video series. Store Sessions transforms HoMie’s streetwear hub into an intimate performance space, capturing artists in their rawest form. Tash Sultana’s performance serves as a pre-tour showcase before their October Australian dates.

GOOD THINGS ANNOUNCES TOOL AS 2025 HEADLINER

Tool will headline this year’s Good Things Festival, coming to Flemington, Melbourne in December. With all three East Coast event dates 16+ and up, punters of all generations have the chance to see some of the world’s best heavy bands live and in person. The lineup will also feature Weezer, Garbage, All Time Low, The All-American Rejects and more.

MELBOURNE CRANKS UP THE VOLUME FOR AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST GAME AUDIO EVENT

Part of Melbourne International Games Week, the High Score conference on 4 and 5 October brings together composers, sound designers and game developers at ACMI for two days of dynamic game audio exploration. The 2025 theme Turn Up The Volume champions game audio deserving recognition.

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF JUNCTION ARTS FESTIVAL WITH TWO WEEKENDS OF LIVE MUSIC

Junction Arts Festival is back for its 15th year, and to celebrate its impressive longevity, it will run an expanded, two-weekend music program from 12 to 21 September. Launceston’s Prince’s Square will host loads of great live acts and art including Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Maddy Jane and more.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FESTIVAL OPENS LIVE MUSIC COMPETITION FOR VICTORIAN ACTS

The festival is partnering with PBS 106.7FM to provide emerging and underground musicians the opportunity to perform in front of more than 15,000 people in rural New South Wales. Strawberry Fields Festival continues its commitment to supporting Australia’s independent music scene, while offering audiences the chance to discover new talent.

THIS FEMINIST MUSIC FESTIVAL WANTS LOUD MELBOURNE WOMEN

The intersectional feminist music collective brings LOUD WOMEN Fest Australia back, happening in Melbourne at The Bergy on 14 December. This marks a decade of amplifying female, trans and non-binary voices in punk and alternative music.

THE STROKES, JELLY ROLL, THE WAR ON DRUGS LEAD HARVEST ROCK 2025

The third-year festival returns to Adelaide’s Rymill & King Rodney Parks on 25 and 26 October with a stacked lineup. The festival features The Strokes as Saturday’s exclusive Australian headliner, while Jelly Roll takes Sunday’s top billing for his first visit to Aussie shores.

DOJA CAT ANNOUNCES MELBOURNE DATE FOR WORLD TOUR

Global sensation Doja Cat has just dropped massive news for Melbourne fans, announcing her first-ever arena tour across the region as part of her Ma Vie World Tour. She’s set to perform at Rod Laver Arena on 25 November, coinciding with her fifth studio album Vie dropping on 26 September.

HARRY STYLES IS ‘100%’ COMING ON TOUR TO AUSTRALIA

Harry Styles has allegedly finished his next album and a Melbourne source has reported this also means an Australian tour announcement. Former AFL star Brendan Fevola dropped some juicy intel on Melbourne radio, claiming the British pop sensation is planning an Australian tour for next year.

BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL SEEKS ARTISTS FOR 2026 RETURN

Expressions of interest are now open for Naarm’s longest-running inner-city music festival, returning 1 to 8 March 2026. New programmer MzRizk brings a global CV including Glastonbury, WOMADelaide and collaborations with Chaka Khan and Nile Rodgers.

MONSTER FEST BRINGS BLOOD AND GUTS TO MELBOURNE

Running from 3 to 11 October at Cinema Nova, Monster Fest brings genre cinema to Carlton featuring international premieres and Australian debuts. Monster Fest’s first look programming is serving up everything from heavy metal horror to zombie comedy.

WES FEST 22 CELEBRATES FINALE WITH DAY-LONG LOCAL MUSIC CELEBRATION

The Wesley Anne will host the final celebration on 20 September, bringing together nine acts for a showcase spanning jazz, folk, soul and global grooves. After 22 editions, Wes Fest 22 – The Finale promises to send off the series in style.

NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS ARE PLAYING IN PARKS ACROSS AUSTRALIA

After almost a decade away from Australian stages, the legendary rock outfit will perform their most celebrated live production across six cities. Catch them at Alexandra Gardens on 30 and 31 January and 1 February.

23/08/2025 2:05:44 PM

THE BLOK !

Credit: Gregory Lorenzutti

WORDS BY MOLLY ENGLAND

A Daylight Connection bring their renegade ethos and punk reputation to Melbourne Fringe Festival with their new work, THE BLOK!

Æ Kamarra Bell-Wykes and Carly Sheppard present a hilarious portrait of what it means to be an artist right now. THE BLOK!, coming to Melbourne Fringe in October, explores the idea of the creator and creation and the symbiotic relationship between the two through ego, spirit and art.

The plot follows THE MASTER, played by Sheppard, “the greatest artist of all time” who is set to create the artistic vindication that will save the world, coming into conversation with THE CREATOR, a polyphonic vision of God as a Blak woman, written by Blak women. Alexis West will be joining the company as a guest artist to take on the role.

“We’re very South Park, or Brechtian in the way we name these things,” Bell-Wykes says about the overtness of the characters. The two-hander piece will be performed with paired-back staging and supported with a sonic composition by longtime collaborator of the team, Small Sound.

“[In] our other works, Chase and A Nighttime Travesty, we use a lot of props and elaborate sets. This is going to be pretty stripped back. It’s still going to be very funny, and simple.”

“We know when an idea is ready to be told. It’s this moment, now, this story.”

A Daylight Connection is a company that refuses categorisation. With Sheppard’s background in dance and experimental theatre, and Bell-Wykes’ directorial and dramaturgical prowess, the team elevate each other and offer something visceral, immediate and different. With two successful performances under their belts, they’ve been conscious of not limiting themselves by trying to recreate the winning formula, but keeping their artistry reactive to the world around them.

“We have to be careful not to put ourselves in our own boxes. We’ve made two works and they were successful based on these things, but is this the constant criteria we are working to? Can we make a serious work? What is the formula that is starting to develop?

It’s exciting; each time we make a work we are learning about ourselves and the process.”

The piece is currently being co-devised by Bell-Wykes and Sheppard as a part of the Darebin Arts Speakeasy Program. The pair are no strangers to creating new works and have curated their rehearsal and creative style into what they call “a synergy”. They’re always in collaboration, even when performing in separate works, eager to continue exploring and using theatre as a vehicle to interrogate the world around them.

“We know when an idea is ready to be told. It’s this moment, now, this story. There is an immediacy to our work,” Bell-Wykes says, and Sheppard agrees.

“We sort of have to figure out where and when something is supposed to come through and usually, our old people will be telling us.”

The idea for THE BLOK! was born at the Bright and Blak Literary Festival, where the two decided to explore the idea of a creator experiencing artistic block.

“Let’s put a writer on the stage, they’ll love it,” they laugh. The piece moves beyond the idea of the lone writer experiencing a creative block and into an existential exploration of the relationship between art and its creator.

“We like to push into the space that hasn’t been walked before,” says Bell-Wykes. Speaking with grounded confidence, she showcases A Daylight Connection’s eagerness to bring new and challenging theatre to Melbourne audiences.

Bell-Wykes and Sheppard speak almost as one, both full of passionate desire to create that which speaks to the marginalised, to their own experiences, and to the eternal question of our fate and its connection to a creator force.

“We will interrogate the representation of who God is and double down on it,” they claim.

The piece will see the company “questioning God to find out who the real master is” through “the unsayable and the undefinable”, pushing to discover “what’s real, what’s true” about the relationship between an artist and their own work.

BLOK!

WHERE: NORTHCOTE TOWN HALL ARTS CENTRE

WHEN: 8–18 OCT

FESTIVAL GUIDE

VERY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Keep it short and sweet with this one-nightonly film festival, showcasing some of the best two to five minute films of the year. This year’s theme is “Seed” and will feature 20 films as well as Q&As with the filmmakers.

CINEMA NOVA 3 SEP

ZERO WASTE FESTIVAL

Curious about living a zero waste lifestyle, or just want to reduce your environmental impact? This free day festival will feature speakers, activities and exhibitors all designed to encourage a more sustainable way of living.

FED SQUARE 6 SEP

BIRRARUNG RIVER FESTIVAL

This month, give the Birrarung its much-deserved flowers. This festival will feature more than 60 events including walking tours, storytelling, platypus spotting sessions, stand up paddleboarding, bush food workshops and even a songwriting competition celebrating the iconic river.

BIRRARUNG RIVER 6–28 SEP

EMERGING WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

Do you have a thirst for the written word? Of course you do, you’re reading right now, you little book worm! This festival helps nourish your creativity, shape your vision and inspire you to put pen to paper.

VARIOUS LOCATIONS 11–18 SEP

WINE AND VINE FESTIVAL

Get ready to drink yourself silly, because this one’s all about the wine. Featuring more than 30 wineries, this event offers free tastings all day, a complimentary tasting glass and tote bag, food trucks, live music and so much more.

ABBOSTFORD CONVENT 13–14 SEP

ACCORDION FESTIVAL

Whether you’re an accordion professional or just an enthusiast, this festival will get you up close and personal with the curious instrument. Featuring jam sessions, concerts, workshops and opportunities for beginners, it’s the best way to get in touch with Melbourne’s accordion community.

KENSINGTON TOWN HALL 13–14 SEP

CONVERGE FESTIVAL

Happening across multiple cities, this brand new music festival celebrates alternative music culture. The lineup will be co-headlined by Melbourne emocore group Bad/Love and Brisbane rockers Young Lions, who will be joined by Sienna Skies, Bad Juju, Saving Face and more.

MAX WATT’S 14 SEP

GORGEOUS FABULOUS

QUEERAGEOUS

Experience the vibrancy and pride of Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ Filipino community with music, art and delicious food. This Pinoy Pride event will be free for all to enjoy, running all afternoon and into the evening.

LUNA PARK PAVILLION 20 SEP

FOOTY FESTIVAL

Gear up for the 2025 AFL Grand Final at this free, all ages festival outside the MCG. The event will feature star player appearances, giveaways, a play zone, music and food and drink trucks.

YARRA PARK 25–28 SEP

ROYAL SHOW

This beloved annual vent brings rides, attractions, farm animals, dog shows, woodchopping, arts and crafts displays and showbags to Melbourne. Fun for the whole family, it’s a treasured event on the Melbourne calendar.

MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS 25 SEP–5 OCT

RAVE IN THE CHURCH

With four stages, this multi-space event promises a unique fusion of Gothic architecture, modern electronic music and cutting-edge visual arts. Hosted by Eat The Beat, tickets to this event will be extremely limited, so get in while you can.

MISSION TO SEAFARES 26 SEP

INTERVAL FESTIVAL

This new, open-air festival fuses music and art, set in the lush, green sculptural gardens of the Heide Museum. The festival will feature both local and international live music acts and DJs performing across two stages, and will be headlined by Baron Von Trax.

HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART 26 SEP

AUSTRALIAN TAP DANCE FESTIVAL

Lace up those tap shoes, because it’s time to celebrate the noisiest dance form. World class dancers come together to tap it out in masterclasses and workshops, all culminating in a massive showcase.

CHAPEL OFF CHAPEL 27 SEP–4 OCT

MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL

Prepare for a joyous three weeks celebrating all-things out-of-the-box. Dance, theatre, comedy, performance art, circus and community events – Fringe has it all. With a plethora of free and ticketed events, it’s a highlight of the city’s performing arts calendar; a not to be missed event.

VARIOUS LOCATIONS 30 SEP–19 OCT

STAGE GUIDE

ARE YOU THERE?

Taking place in the foyer of an aged care facility over the course of one long Friday, this dark comedy charts the stories of director Pia (whose personal life is in tatters) and her two colleagues Lauren and Colleen.

TW EXPLOSIVES FACTORY 3–13 SEP

THE ANARCHY (1138–53)

In the medieval town of Cross Roads, a duel is taking place. Audiences select a character, who will then joust, climb towers, dodge arrows and even attempt necromancy. Fusing anticomedy, historical folk-horror and psychedelic ritual, this one’s a wild ride.

THEATRE WORKS 3–13 SEP

THE LARK

This one woman show follows publican Rosie Grey as she says goodbye to The Lark, a Melbourne bar that’s been shut due to gentrification. Both her home and her inheritance from her father, the pub is deeply important to her and she fears what might happen when it’s gone.

FAIRFAX STUDIO 3–20 SEP

ILLUME

Made in collaboration between Bangarra Dance Theatre and a visual arts company, this awe-inspiring show explores how light has captivated and sustained Indigenous Australians since the beginning of time.

PLAYHOUSEARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 4–13 SEP

TROY

Set in 12th century BCE, this historical play written by the iconic Tom Wright envisions Troy like you’ve never seen it before. Blood will be spilled, war will be waged and violence will ensue beneath the Trojan horse.

MALTHOUSE MERLYN THEATRE 4–25 SEP

MJ THE MUSICAL

This Tony Award winning show pays tribute to one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Featuring many hit songs, the show follows the lead up to Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour, showcasing his signature style and unforgettable charm.

HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE FROM 9 SEP

THE 39 STEPS

This high-octane hit is finally hitting Melbourne, after having thrilled audiences across the world. Four actors play a whopping 130 roles in this quick-moving comedy thriller directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Damien Ryan.

COMEDY THEATRE 10–28 SEP

OTHELLO

Presented by the Melbourne Shakespeare Company, this new adaptation is directed by Tanya Gerstle and features a cast of five actors. Immersive, bold and unflinching, it breathes new life into the classic tragedy.

FORTYFIVEDOWNSTAIRS 11–28 SEP

TARZAN

Disney’s iconic cartoon is reimagined here for the stage, bringing the audience into the jungle for a swing on the vines. With amazing aerial work and a stunning soundtrack, it’ll thrill viewers of all ages.

NATIONAL THEATRE UNTIL 14 SEP

TURN OF THE SCREW

Set in a remote English manor, this story follows a young governess as she struggles to protect two young children from the sinister forces that surround them. One of the most successful operas of the last 100 years, it’s a tense and gothic tale.

ANTHENAEUM THEATRE 17–20 SEP

DRAW TWO

Back in her hometown, a woman at a crossroads in her life is mistaken by an old acquaintance for her twin sister, who recently passed away, leaving behind a young son. Exploring grief, sisterhood and motherhood, this show will tug at your heartstrings.

TW EXPLOSIVES FACTORY 17–27 SEP

THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF

This one act comedic opera was originally written for the radio in 1939, but has been adapted here for the stage. In it, two residents of a small town have their lives transformed by the arrival of a mysterious handsome stranger.

ANTHENAEUM THEATRE 18–20 SEP

COLOUR AND LIGHT: THE ART OF SONDHEIM

This mammoth performance celebrates Stephen Sondheim, one of musical theatre’s biggest stars. A curated selection of his top songs and lesser-known gems, this revue crosses the emotional spectrum and is designed for fans and newcomers alike.

THEATRE WORKS 18–27 SEP

SMELLS LIKE A SONG: AN IMPROVISED MUSICAL

Watch the impressive Impro Melbourne team create a full musical out of thin air. Each audience member receives a rose, which they can throw on stage at any point to demand a song. Silly, hilarious and refreshing, this show is absolute mayhem.

IMPRO MELBOURNE THEATRE UNTIL 20 SEP

AN EVENING ON BROADWAY

This dazzling show celebrates the history of musical theatre, borrowing legendary hits from shows like Les Miserables, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story and more. Led by conductor Jessica Gethin, it’ll be a stunning display of musical mastery.

HAMER HALL 24–26 SEP

“I remember when Madonna would say that she was the first one to wear a corset. It was like, ‘You know better, you know it was me!’ But she wouldn’t give me that credit.”

CHERIE CURRIE

The Runaways frontvixen Cherie Currie (not a stage name) is a rock ‘n’ roll lifer.

WORDS BY BRYGET CHRISFIELD

Æ She’s also an actress, author, chainsaw sculptor, mother and drug counsellor. Despite the all-girl teenage rock group’s popularity here, The Runaways never toured Australia. Cherie first toured our shores in 2016 and now she’s back for her Final Ever Aus Tour.

We find Cherie surrounded by walls decorated with framed Gold/Platinum record plaques. She’s immediately warm and chatty, blonde and beaming in a long-sleeved, faded blue chambray shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

Many artists have admitted that The Runaways were the reason they pursued music in the first place. So how does that make Cherie feel?

“Well, from Miley Cyrus to The Go-Go’s – I mean, it’s shocking to me, because I really thought we were all but forgotten. I remember when Madonna would say that she was the first one to wear a corset. It was like, ‘You know better, you know it was me!’ But she wouldn’t give me that credit.

“But you know what? To see the business be so female-friendly; I know [The Runaways] were a large part of that. And Suzi Quatro – I just can’t give her more love and appreciation than I do every interview, because I have to mention that she is truly the Godmother of rock ’n’ roll. If it wouldn’t have been for Suzi, there never would’ve been The Runaways – or Joan Jett, for that matter – so I have to give credit where credit is due.”

When Cherie was asked to prepare a Suzi Quatro song for her The Runaways audition, she recalls, laughing, “Because I really wasn’t a singer – I never stood up and sang by myself, ever! – I picked Fever, because it was kinda sexy [Quatro covered this popular Eddie Cooley/Otis Blackwell co-write on 1975’s Your Mamma Won’t Like Me record]. And Lita and Joan and Sandy, they were all like, ‘Ugh, awful’.

“So Kim [Fowley, the band’s svengali manager], turned around and said to Joan, ‘You, come with me’... It coulda been Lita – and that’s not to put Joan down at all, Joan’s a great songwriter. But I think it was pretty neat that they disappeared for 15, 20 minutes then came out with this song [Cherry Bomb] that is what The Runaways are known for now.

“Anyone could sing it, any musician could pick up a guitar and play it and that’s, I think, what makes The Runaways so special: it’s just great rock ’n’ roll.

“I actually wrote the melody for Cherry Bomb. Because there was no melody for it and I was the only one that sang the song, I had to come up with a melody on the spot. I wish I would’ve known that I could have gotten a songwriting credit on that song; that’s ‘live and learn’, right?”

The Runaways supported the likes of Cheap Trick and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on their way up, then the tables turned once the girls achieved headliner status. “Cheap Trick, Tom Petty – I mean, it was just support all the way around,” Cherie reflects. “There were good ones out there, really good ones… But there were other bands that didn’t appreciate these teenage girls trying to infringe on their territory. Some bands just hated us, they thought we were a joke. And I can kinda get that they thought we were just hype, but then when we played it would change their minds.”

There was a surge of interest in the band following 2010’s The Runaways film, which was inspired by Neon Angel: A Memoir Of A Runaway – Cherie’s unflinching book. Did Cherie struggle to hold it together while recording Neon Angel’s audiobook version at times? “Oh, I did,” she admits freely. “We did this during Covid. My son [Jake Hays, Cherie’s son with actor Robert Hays (aka Ted Striker in Flying High)] was living here at the time, and I had to let my neighbours know: ‘Look, if you hear anyone screaming and crying, it’s just me doing my audiobook’. Because it was true! I mean, it’s one thing to write it, it’s another thing to say it out loud. And I found myself crying and just in such pain. I had to relive all of those experiences that were very, very difficult. But, you know what? It made me who I am today. So, honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

CHERIE CURRIE

WHERE: MAX WATT’S

WHEN: 11 SEP

JOHN BUTLER

WORDS BY KAYA MARTIN

After many failures, false starts, trials, tribulations, experiments, lessons, and deaths (both metaphorical and physical), John Butler will release his 10th album PRISM on 5 September.

Æ When he first started experimenting with these songs, back during the pandemic, Butler had no idea of the arduous and enlightening journey they would take him on.

Speaking on a break after soundcheck from Edmonton, Canada, he says it was a mixture of things that set him on this path. His band had just disbanded; the lockdowns had begun; he felt a need for some personal space. Always a believer in independent music, he got the idea for a project completely his own – written, recorded and engineered all by himself.

“I mean, I’ve always produced my albums and arranged them, but engineering is a whole other thing,” he says. He’d been making decent headway, when suddenly he felt a shift.

“It’s a deep labyrinth. I had about 20 or 30 songs, and hundreds and hundreds of tracks, and then everything stopped working. I got in over my head. The really weird thing was once it stopped working, I was like, ‘Oh’, and then it just started falling apart and my anxiety went through the roof.”

Although he’d already written around 40 per cent of the songs that would eventually make it onto PRISM, Butler couldn’t finish them. It felt like a failure.

“I couldn’t do anything. I was just like, ‘Oh my God’. So I failed and I surrendered, and that was a huge moment. Once that was settled, then I had space,” he tells me. “And then all of a sudden, in that space that is surrender, I had a bit of an epiphany.”

A framework came to him, a cycle through which he saw his life and his work: four seasons. In the first season, he had to heal. “I just lost my father and my partner lost her father within 40 hours of each other,” he tells me. “Our dads died. Our marriage kind of died. My band died. I had an ego death. It was like a lot of dying, you know?”

Through the healing process came Running River, an ambient album Butler had been meaning to make for 20 years. The second season, as he saw it, was to begin again, so Butler returned to his roots of busking on an 11-string guitar and released an instrumental album called Still Searching in 2024.

“All of a sudden, in that space that is surrender, I had a bit of an epiphany.”

Then it was time for the third season – going solo – which meant once again facing the complex project that was PRISM.

“Sometimes the art knows more than I do. The art was like, ‘You’re not ready for me. You’re not ready. You can’t do this. You need to go back over there.’ And in doing that, I achieved some old goals that I really wanted to achieve and recalibrated my instrument and myself,” he says.

Once again tackling PRISM, Butler decided to enlist the help of James Ireland of Pond. But even with Ireland’s assistance, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

“I was sitting on my back porch listening to what we’d been doing one night I was just like, ‘ah.’ I got the cold shivers. I was just like, ‘This isn’t right. Oh no, this isn’t it. I was closer when I was doing it by myself then I am now, even though it sounds better, it’s more tight.’

“That broke my heart. I was like, “Oh my God, I’m done. I’m fucking done with this album. Maybe I’m just done in general. Maybe I’m done with this music thing.”

But he wasn’t done with PRISM – or PRISM wasn’t done with him. They tore the album apart and rebuilt it once again, finally finding their groove. The result is 12 songs that span the emotional spectrum – exuberant, touching and most importantly true. With the album and the third season behind him, Butler offers a metaphor.

“I see songs and I hear them, and they’re like wild horses in the bush,” he tells me. “Artists go bush walking all the time and we see songs, we see horses, and we want to bring them in to show everybody in the city.

“But you can bring a horse in and break its spirit, and what was wild and beautiful out there can be backbroken and depressed by the time you get onto an album, or into the city. And so every horse wants its saddle put on a different way if it’s gonna come in.

“I just keep on learning that more and more as I make albums. And this album was very stubborn. It was like a Mustang just going, ‘No,’” he says. “I was like, ‘Fucking hell, I’m trying to make you, what do you want?’”

As for the fourth season, Butler’s got no idea yet what that will bring. But as he moves into the future, it’s clear the lessons he learned while making PRISM will stay with him.

“You know, I realised one thing in my career,” says Butler. “I work for the music. I always thought the music should make me happy, but actually, I have to make the music happy. I work for the song and I am the butler to that music. I will give it anything it wants.”

JOHN BUTLER

WHERE: NORTHCOTE THEATRE

WHEN: 11 SEP

Made in partnership with John Butler

LIEU PRIVÉ

Lieu Privé – translating to ‘the private place’ – launches as Melbourne’s most enigmatic cocktail experience

in Hawthorn East.

Æ Melbourne’s cocktail scene welcomes its most intriguing new addition with the opening of Lieu Privé, a mystery bar that redefines the traditional drinking experience. Located on Burwood Road in Hawthorn East – one of the city’s most quickly developing hotspots – this innovative venue presents four distinct rooms, each offering its own curated atmosphere and an exclusive shot. The space also features Asian-fusion food bites and homemade boozy ice cream.

Lieu Privé invites you to choose which room to experience: the Copper Room, Devil’s Corner, Room of Thoughts or Room of Memories. Melbourne’s most enigmatic speakeasy doesn’t just serve cocktails. It curates experiences, and no two are ever the same.

The concept behind Lieu Privé centres on choice and discovery. Patrons must select which door to enter, with each threshold leading to a distinct space, designed to evoke different feelings.

Lieu Privé opened with a masquerade-themed launch event, establishing its position as an immersive speakeasy experience unlike any other in Melbourne. The venue’s philosophy centres on curiosity and exploration, inviting patrons who appreciate the art of discovery rather than predictable bar experiences.

The establishment maintains limited operating hours to preserve its exclusive atmosphere, remaining closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Extended weekend hours accommodate the venue’s target clientele, with Friday and Saturday service continuing until 1am with special DJ sets and the bar moving towards a bookings-exclusive operation.

Each room within Lieu Privé tells its own story through carefully considered design elements and cocktail offerings. The mystery bar concept reflects a growing trend in Melbourne’s hospitality scene towards experiential dining and drinking. Lieu Privé takes this trend further by creating multiple experiences within a single venue, allowing repeat visits to feel entirely fresh depending on the room selection.

LIEU PRIVÉ

WHERE: 602 BURWOOD RD, HAWTHORN EAST

OPEN: 6PM–12AM SUN, WED, THU / 6PM–1AM FRI–SAT

Made in partnership with Lieu Privé.

The Devil’s Corner

DEAD SHOT

The Devil’s Corner is a deliberately intimate space bathed in deep sapphire hues that transform the atmosphere next to the bar’s open kitchen. Soft jazz music weaves through the air, encouraging patrons to lose themselves in introspection about their deepest, darkest desires while remaining part of the broader Lieu Privé experience.

Room of Memories

SNAPSHOT

Art lovers will gravitate towards the Room of Memories, where perception becomes part of the experience. The space features an eclectic collection of ornate and minimal frames adorning the walls, creating visual depth and movement. This room appeals to creative gatherings and celebrations, offering an environment that challenges conventional aesthetics. There are games on the tables, the walls are adorned with empty frames, making you the memory, and the windows feature playing cards.

Room of Thoughts

RAPID FIRE SHOT

For those seeking contemplation, the Room of Thoughts provides a literary sanctuary. With books both real and sculptural, the Room of Thoughts creates a feature wall that invites reflection and intimate discussion. Designed for smaller groups of two to six people, this space combines the warmth of aged pages with carefully crafted cocktails, making it ideal for intimate dates, quiet conversations and philosophical exchanges.

The Copper Room

SIGNATURE 4X SHOT

The Copper Room serves as the main bar area, where warm copper tones create an energetic atmosphere that pulses with infectious vibes throughout the space. The venue’s innovative approach extends beyond its concept to include practical features that enhance the mystery bar experience, including four distinct rooms with signature shots, curated private spaces designed for intimate gatherings, personal whiskey locker service for bottle storage, evolving experiences ensuring no two visits remain identical and cocktail menus printed on playing cards.

THE ARMY, THE NAVY

WORDS BY OLIVER WINN

Folk-pop duo

The Army, The Navy stand out from the rest because ultimately, two lead singers are better than one. And in the end, “people just love harmonies”.

Æ Though that oversimplifies things a little, it truly is band members Sasha Goldberg and Maia Ciambriello’s handle over harmony that’s won over the hearts of many. Atop a bed of autumnal acoustic guitar, the Los Angelesbased pair inflect intimate lyrics with spicy harmonies as they convey complex emotions. Interestingly, the band is a big hit in Australia, so it only makes sense their second-ever international venture has landed them down under. With shows at Sydney's Vanguard and Melbourne’s Brunswick Ballroom already completely sold out, it’s clear they made the right decision to bring the music our way.

Though The Army, The Navy only formed in 2022, Goldberg and Ciambriello’s musical friendship can be traced to their roots in a small town outside of San Francisco where they shared the same singing teacher. Fate would have Goldberg’s and Ciambriello’s first choice college applications rejected, which saw them rooming together while studying music at Loyola University. They’ve lived together for roughly eight years since then. As the band’s Spotify bio puts it, the pair are a “consonance between childhood friends” – no matter how many scale degrees separate them, their souls always harmonise in a way that resonates.

“I think the catalyst of everything for us was just living together in a really small room,” Goldberg says. “It kind of just morphed into a thing where everybody started to see us as a unit.”

“People started seeing us as a duo before we even thought of ourselves that way,” Ciambriello adds.

They’ve both permeated each other’s lives to the point where lyrics often reference shared experiences, forming a collective identity of sorts that underpins the band’s ethos. From walks underneath the same grove of trees, to the specific smell of a bridge in their hometown, or the unusually prolific persimmons at a Thanksgiving, The Army, The Navy’s two EPs are saturated with a shared sense of intimacy.

“If we’re writing from Maia’s perspective, I can also pull from it. It can be very collaborative,” Goldberg says. Sonically, The Army, The Navy’s assortment of acoustic guitar, dueting vocals and occasional subtle strings perfectly complement the lyrical intimacy. The gently fingerpicked guitars that open on the song Persimmon feel like a cosy autumn evening, and Ciambriello and Goldberg’s consonant vocals add to the sense of proximity and closeness. But, we quickly realise the song’s underlying message isn’t as sweet.

The dissonance of a minor second in the pair’s harmony is masterfully interwoven on key lyrics such as “now the lake’s frozen over”, hinting at a growing distance between the protagonist and their lover. The following lyrics, “I’ve got more room to glide”, sees the harmony resolve again, as the protagonist looks for the light in this unrequited relationship.

“We definitely put a lot of care and attention into the lyrics that we write and sing,” Goldberg says. Having both studied music, their output is full of interesting moments, and it helps widen the band’s appeal.

“I was so happy to see not just young people, but also jazz dads and people that you just wouldn't expect at the shows,” Goldberg says. They describe their unannounced upcoming album as being more “cerebral” and experimental with its songwriting, which is sure to please other artists out there.

“We would love to be an artist's favorite artist as well. I think that's really important to us, because we love music and we love artists. We're so tapped into the culture and so that love from other artists feels so amazing too,” Goldberg says.

Joining that cohort of artist fans was the guitarist of hardcore band Knocked Loose.

Nicko Calderon named The Army, The Navy’s Fruit for Flies EP as one of his favourite releases of 2024.

“Nicko is incredible, he's always repping our shit and supporting us. It's really sweet,” Goldberg says. “I remember when he posted about us and I was like, ‘No way that's so random,’” Ciambriello says.

THE ARMY, THE NAVY

WHERE: BRUNSWICK BALLROOM

WHEN: 7 SEP

WORDS BY ANDREW HANDLEY

Eddy Current Suppression Ring have emerged, once again, with new music and little fuss.

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING

Æ With their first three albums, released from 2006 to 2010, Eddy Current Suppression Ring helped define the sound of independent music in Australia. Though their brand of bare-bones garage punk is uniquely Australian, it cut through overseas too. The band may have been on multiple extended breaks, but their influence has remained steadfast. This is despite their DIY ethos of recording and releasing albums extending to promotion too, which has remained minimal. Guitarist Mikey Young records and mixes the band himself, as well as greatly contributing to songwriting. He also acts as band manager, booker and promoter. He doesn’t have a mobile phone, let alone a band social media account.

Young’s job is now mixing and mastering music, with his name credited on countless independent releases. After work one day, he joins a video call from his North Melbourne studio. “We actually lived in this building for three and a half years, covertly, until we saved up enough cash to get an apartment,” he says while panning his camera across the room.

“Now I work basically from nine to six or so and end up jamming here two or three nights a week, so I’m here a lot,” he says. Living in a studio with his partner, American-born Raven Mahon, was undoubtedly beneficial when making music for their band The Green Child. Young’s presence in the music scene runs even deeper, being a member of Total Control, Ooga Boogas, Kissland and more.

It was at Corduroy Records, a vinyl pressing plant and label in Melbourne, where Young worked with Brendan Huntley. At the 2003 Christmas party, while jamming with his older brother Danny on drums, they persuaded Huntley to ad-lib vocals. The connection was immediate, and soon after Brad Barry joined on bass.

Having early access to recording equipment thanks to being surrounded by creative people was pivotal in Young’s life. “Everyone was just doing something,” he says. “Without scoring that job, I don’t think Eddy Current would have existed. I think it was the start of a lot of things for me.”

Until recently, Eddy Current Suppression Ring hadn’t played since Golden Plains and Dark Mofo in 2016. The tour for their 2019 album, All In Good Time, was cancelled days before it was to begin due to COVID lockdowns. “I was weirdly breathing a sigh of relief at the time. Maybe, in retrospect, I didn’t feel ready to do it,” recalls Young. “That put a spanner in the works as far as momentum.”

This time around, Young says the band was eager to get back on stage, practising together for 18 months and warming up with secret shows. “Because we’ve been jamming more than we ever did, like every week, we actually felt ready,” says Young. “For all those secret shows, three or four of them, we only played new songs, so we treated it and it felt like being a new band.”

The band’s first official show was a sold-out Night Cat in Fitzroy. “It was the first one where we mixed it up and played half and half. I was worried that people weren’t going to gel with the new songs or just want the hits, but everyone was really receptive to everything,” says Young. “It seemed really cathartic for a lot of people. Like, I was hugging a lot of emotional men until the early hours.”

The band recorded their first three records astonishingly fast. “The first one was really quick – four hours, and the second one was two days, and the third one was six hours,” recalls Young. “Back in those days, we were playing live a lot, so you’d write a song, test it out live, realise what was or wasn’t working [and] shape it that way over time.”

The band’s new seven-inch, Shapes and Forms, has three new tracks. “We just record our practices, and if we get a good take, that’s the song,” he says. “There’s not really many, if any, overdubs, and there’s no way to pretty up that stuff.”

The band is on course to release a full-length album, teases Young, having already mixed 10 tracks. “I’ll probably mix 15 tracks, and if we listen back to them and there’s 10 good ones, we’ll make an album,” he says. “Maybe we’ll just do a couple more seven-inches, but I think it’s looking like there might be 10 good ones.”

“Not that we were ever in a rush back then, but we’re probably even in less of a rush now,” he says. “There’s no rush to put out an album. There’s no rush to play more shows. It’s really low maintenance, and there’s no careerist motives behind it at all.”

Young says not to expect anything revolutionary from the band. “The All In Good Time stuff was a bit more mellow, because a lot of it was written at a time when Danny was really busy,” explains Young. “So, us three were kicking around with the drum machine making really quiet house jams.”

“These [new songs] developed more by playing loud to ourselves every week, so it’s probably closer to the old stuff,” continues Young. “I’m sure we’ve got better and have different influences over the last 15 years. I think Brendan’s become quite a better singer.”

Next year will mark 20 years since the release of the band’s debut record. “I’m sure it would have surprised me 20 years ago, but it doesn’t really surprise me now,” says Young on the longevity of the band. “I’m surprised it still feels this good. It’s not always easy to find four people to play with that are inspiring, and it just works.

“It seemed really cathartic for a lot of people. Like, I was hugging a lot of emotional men until the early hours.”

“Even when I pulled it aside 15 years ago, I was wary of saying we’re finished. All my bands have come and gone when it feels like the best time to put effort into them,” continues Young. “It’s the nice thing about music not feeling like a career for me – I can drop things and do something else and feel inspired by that. The other band members can go do other things for a while, and we can come back, and it doesn’t really matter. We’re only really playing for ourselves anyway.”

Along with some intimate shows, Eddy Current Suppression Ring will play one of the biggest shows of their career at Fed Square on Grand Final Eve. “The idea of playing Frankston and Anglesea to keep it small felt really good,” says Young. “Then the Fed Square one came up, and it just felt right straight away. I love small shows, but then also the unique shows that are somewhere you’ve never played before.

“The main thing for us is that we keep doing these shows that people can’t get tickets to because they’re sold out. People are sending us emails, almost angry as us,” continues Young. “We thought if we do this – it’s free and you can bring your kids – that should shut up everyone we know for a while. Then we can go back to doing whatever we want.”

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING

WHERE: FED SQUARE

WHEN: 26 SEP

EMERGING WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

WORDS BY AUGUST BILL

Emerging Writers’ Festival is

a

festival for writers, by writers.

Æ The 2025 festival program includes 70 events divided into 11 event categories, including the imaginatively-named Estuaries, Alcoves, Open Air, Salons and Ethers, as well as performances, workshops, hub events, EWF X and the National Writers’ Conference.

Estuaries are events connecting literary arts with other creative forms. “I wanted to have really interesting collaborations with other arts organisations and spaces that our city really loves,” says Jess Zanoni, EWF’s artistic director and co-CEO.

One example is the EWF takeover of the Northcote Social Club on 15 September. The lineup includes sound artist Hand Clap, spoken word poet Antonio Montaine and art-pop musician ROMÆO.

The Alcoves stream includes panels, roundtables and drop-in sessions designed to offer cosy, creative nourishment, where the Open Air events aim to inspire writers in novel environments, taking them away from screens and artificial lights. One example is From the Chrysalis, a poetry reading at the Butterfly House at Melbourne Zoo on 13 September.

The festival’s launch event, Finding Your Way, is hosted by guest curator, Gunditjimara woman Coral Reeve. On 11 September, Reeve will take guests along a traditional songline at Fitzroy Gardens.

The EWF workshops, hosted by a range of established writers and industry figures, will zero in on significant topics for professional and creative development, such as how to approach self-promotion and how to get your novel’s chapter ready for submission.

The Salon sessions will provide a space for literary discussion and creative connection, while the Hub events will be situated at the Emerging Writers’ Festival’s brand new festival hub, located on the ground level of the Wheeler Centre.

The festival will conclude with the Blue Hour Litfair on 18 September. Taking place at Abbotsford Convent, it’s an evening market where artists will be selling zines, books and other DIY literary objects.

The Blue Hour Litfair, like everything else on the EWF program, is all about connection.

EMERGING WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

WHERE: VARIOUS LOCATIONS

WHEN: 11–18 SEP

Made in partnership with the Emerging Writers’ Festival.

JENNIFER MILLS: IN THE ECHO CHAMBER

WORDS BY KAYA

MARTIN

It’s not every day that we get a look behind the curtain of the life of a brilliant artist.

Æ But soon we will, courtesy of the Bunjil Place Gallery.

For the next few months, the Narre Warren venue will show the life’s work of award-winning Melbourne-based watercolour artist, Jennifer Mills. Spanning three decades, the expansive exhibition will feature more than 120 works that chart the trajectory of the artist’s career.

Rich with stories, the exhibition showcases a range of subject matter, from animals to cult television heroes, from suburban scenes to intimate family stories. It’ll also feature a few pieces that have never been seen before.

Praised for being heartfelt, ambiguous and even funny at times, the exhibition is free for all to enjoy and will be accompanied by a publication and a series of public learning programs.

Born in 1966, Jennifer Mills has gained a reputation for her incredible and disruptive watercolour works.

Exploring topics including identity, memory, childhood, disguise and disability, she often employs untraditional tactics with her works, including cutting out elements with scissors or disrupting images with oil pastels. Her starting place is often a found photograph.

Mills has shown her works at Sydney’s Darren Knight Gallery regularly since 1997, steadily building her practice and adapting her methodology.

Mills’ work has been praised by fans and the art world alike. She’s currently a finalist for the Dobell Drawing Prize, she was a finalist in the Paul Guest Drawing Prize at Bendigo Art Gallery in 2024, and has been a regular finalist in the Geelong Art Prize, Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, Jacaranda Art Prize and Mornington Peninsula National Works on Paper Prize.

In 2018, she took home the prestigious Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award.

Lately, she’s been teaming up with her son Darcy Luker, inviting him to fill in the missing figures in her works. The result is a thought-provoking fusion of portraiture and abstract styles.

JENNIFER MILLS: IN THE ECHO CHAMBER

WHERE: BUNJIL PLACE GALLERY

WHEN: UNTIL 16 NOV

Made in partnership with the Bunjil Place Gallery.

MR. INDUSTRY

WORDS BY WIL CLIFFORD

Pointing to a lone picture of Tom Waits hanging above his head, Sebastian briefly explains the plot of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Æ “The big guy right behind me, he frickin’ is like Dracula’s slave,” he says. “Every time he feeds a big animal to a bigger animal, he gets more evil. I thought that was cool.”

It’s the frontman’s favourite film and the focus of Birdie, the opening track off Mr. Industry’s debut EP Dancing To My Own Internal Rhythm. Across 40 minutes and six cacophonous tracks, the quintet whip up an art rock frenzy.

Lachlan, the drummer of the crew, builds on the Dracula analogy.

“It’s the cycle of becoming more evil,” he says. “I guess we loosely tied in the whole ‘growing evil’ thing into like, ‘don’t worry’ – addressing things that you think about while you’re growing up, [like] getting worse without knowing. I feel like [the songs on the EP are] all roughly about change or a fear of changing.”

Referred to by the band as DTMOIR, this exciting collection of tracks has been cooking for quite some time, with aforementioned opener Birdie being conceived midway through 2022. In that three year span, they’ve played alongside acts like Radio Free Alice and The Belair Lip Bombs – but first they had to get out of their hometown, Canberra.

“Because it’s so small, every band is leaving such an impression on you and everything you hear… there are like four other bands in the scene, how do we write something that’s not like that?” questions Lachlan. “Not that there’s not great bands in Canberra obviously, but the frequency of good bands here can be crazy.”

The group of five musos all moved into a sharehouse together in a city where they knew no one, held together by a dream. It’s a decision Sebastian reflects on as “pretty Canberra-minded”. “It was hectic. I think Grow Kit, we wrote the first half when we were in Canberra and we had a different backend for it,” he says. “We wrote the second half for it once we were in Melbourne. Looking back at it now, it’s kind of the perfect view of how things went. It was very scary, but I think it’s done good.”

Recorded at Taste Police Studios with the help of Vince McIntyre, DTMOIR sees a band coming of age. From front to back, you can hear them finding their voice, discovering their sound. And the title, Dancing To My Own Internal Rhythm? It’s the band’s new mantra. “We had a lot of impressions from other bands at the time we were writing,” says Lachlan. “By the time we got into [the EP], the consensus was we’re ready to try something new. It rings true.”

Tracks like Grow Kit and Bagpipes crack on with ferocity, chaotic without ever falling apart. Flickerings of jazz, hard rock and midwest emo are scattered everywhere, held together by a tight rhythm section and an incredible sense of purpose.

“Because we had those songs for so long, it was already like we knew what we wanted to do,” says Sebastian. “We knew what we wanted to do with it from three years of thinking about it.”

The final track, the titular DTMOIR, presents the band as they are in the current day. A slow build culminates in a giant instrumental peak, all while Sebastian’s cryptic lyricism digs into the core theme of the EP: personal growth and change.

“I guess in our own way, being in the band and making music is us trying to work through [change] and figure out ourselves,” says Lachlan. “I think the theme overall is kind of self-discovery, without being corny.”

It’s a powerful closer to an ambitious debut, but according to Sebastian it was nearly scrapped.

“We tried recording it in the first sessions, but the idea just wasn’t fleshed out enough yet,” he says. “We almost dropped it and saved it for whatever the next album was gonna be, but we were like, ‘No, we gotta commit to it.’”

Mr. Industry are set to take over Frankston’s Young Street Tavern on 13 September, alongside shoegaze icons Camomile and noise rockers Dogworld.

“Maybe we’ll bring back a cover of Beauty And The Beat,” says Sebastian. “I’m Nicki Minaj, but I have to have my phone out reading the verse when I do it, which I think adds to it, y’know?”

“There are like four other bands in the scene, how do we write something that’s not like that?”

MR. INDUSTRY

WHERE: YOUNG STREET TAVERN

WHEN: 13 SEP

Regional GUIDE

WORDS BY FRANKIE ANDERSON-BYRNE

FESTIVALS

TESSELAAR TULIP FESTIVAL

With over a million spring flowers in bloom and live entertainment daily, there’s something for everyone at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. Enjoy live music, delicious foods from around the world, fun garden activities, market stalls, tractor train rides, the fairy garden and more!

SILVAN 13 SEP–12 OCT

IN THE PADDOCK

Shake off the winter chill at In The Paddock, an alpine celebration of music, mates and magical moments under the stars. Embrace the mountain spirit with a killer lineup, cosy vibes and a whole lot of fun. Enjoy drinks from the Bright Brewery Container Bar, who will also be hosting a Boot Scoot Competition, so show off your Nutbush moves for a chance to win epic prizes.

BRIGHT 20 SEP

AURA SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW AT SOVEREIGN HILL

AURA immerses you in the story of gold in a 90-minute high octane graphic presentation which explores the creation, discovery and impact of the precious metal, filled with rebellion, gunfights, triumphs and tragedies. The Wadawurrung creation story unfolds and soars into the skies over Sovereign Hill’s lake.

BALLARAT UNTIL 30 SEP

DJAARA LIGHTS

Experience the six seasons by Troy Firebrace and Drew Berick with one of Bendigo’s most unique and cultural activation experiences. Djaara Lights aims to highlight Dja Dja Wurrung culture in the Bendigo region through combining the display of artwork and augmented reality experiences.

BENDIGO UNTIL 23 SEP

BLOOM

Experience the magic of spring across the Bendigo region. From vibrant tulip displays and colourful floral installations to experiences and events designed to awaken your senses, this year’s Bloom program brings over 60 events to the Bendigo region, inviting you to connect with the beauty of the season. Take a stroll through the golden Cornella Canola Walk or explore Loddon’s stunning natural landscape bursting with life.

BENDIGO UNTIL 23 NOV

DEAN KITE FESTIVAL

The Dean Kite Festival is a family-friendly opportunity to have some good old fashioned fun. Learn how to make a kite of your own to fly and take home. There will be award-winning kite-flying enthusiasts on hand showcasing their wonderfully colourful and novel kites. Enjoy country hospitality with a sausage sizzle and homemade afternoon tea.

DEAN 7 SEP

STAGE

CAEL O’DONNELL

With his signature magnetic stage presence, Cael is gracing the town of Bendigo for one night only. Cael’s set to captivate you with heartfelt messages that touch your soul and lift your spirits. He’s not just a psychic; he possesses a gift that’s often described as “off the charts”.

THE CAPITAL, BENDIGO 4 SEP

ROSS NOBLE –CRANIUM OF CURIOSITIES

Roll up, roll up! Ross Noble is the Wizard of Waffle, The Rambler Royale, The Noodlers’ Noodler, and he’s back live on stage to tour a tornado of tangents. What the show will be about is anybody’s guess, but that’s all part of the fun when you look inside his Cranium of Curiosities.

WANGARATTA PERFORMING ARTS AND CONVENTION CENTRE 4 SEP

LLOYD LANGFORD –POWERFUL ENERGY

Whether he’s performing comedy, putting the bins out or refusing to move out of the way of the books in an op shop, people cannot help but notice Lloyd Langford’s

powerful energy. You too can immerse yourself in his undeniable vibe. Lloyd has plenty to say about farmers markets, talk radio, his first film role and his increasingly effervescent daughter.

GEELONG ARTS CENTRE 6 SEP

TOURS

JOHN BUTLER

With his new album Prism, John Butler reclaims his classic groove-laden force, brimming with fierce guitars, robust percussion and meteoric choruses. The concert will feature new songs such as honky tonk infused hit Trippin’ On You and the anthemic So Sorry, alongside classic JBT tunes.

ULUMBARRA THEATRE, BENDIGO 12 SEP

BALLARAT CIVIC HALL 13 SEP

THE SMITH STREET BAND

The Smith Street Band announced a mammoth 24 date East Coast regional tour. There’s an upcoming album too, the third recorded at the band’s off-grid studio in regional Victoria. The tour will include their first-ever shows in Mildura and Tamworth.

SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE 18 SEP

TORQUAY HOTEL, TORQUAY 25 SEP

THE CAT EMPIRE

Australian music icons The Cat Empire are primed to ignite stages across the country, bringing their explosive, genre-blending live show across Australia in celebration of their vibrant 10th studio album, Bird In Paradise, including a run of all ages shows.

CIVIC HALL, BALLARAT 5 SEP

NORTHCOTE THEATRE 6 & 7 SEP

SYCCO

For the past three years, Sycco, has lived in a crumbling Brisbane sharehouse. Once home to the former mayor, today, there are rats in the ceilings and a crew of housemates who have become each other’s chosen family. Sycco’s debut album was born from the experiences she had there: love, heartbreak and forming the friendships that sustained her through it all.

BARWON CLUB, GEELONG 25 SEP

SINGING BIRD, FRANKSTON 26 SEP

FREDDIE WIMPOLE’S

LIVE MUSIC: Freddie’s keeps the good times rolling late into the night, with live music four nights a week and a Sunday ritual that’s become a St Kilda staple: Southern Sundays, when the bar fills with the sounds of country, Americana, bluegrass and folk, backed by rotating drink specials. Add in midweek sets, trivia, and the odd surprise performance, and there’s always something worth sticking around for.

FAMOUS FOR: 14 rotating taps pouring the best local and independent brews, paired with a killer cocktail list and one of the friendliest late-night bar vibes in Melbourne.

INFAMOUS FOR: The “come as you are” attitude: whether you’re in for a quick knock-off or kicking on, Freddie’s makes room for you.

Æ Freddie Wimpole’s is St Kilda’s after-dark living room. Sitting proudly on Fitzroy Street, this late-night favourite blends the charm of a neighbourhood pub with the swagger of a craft beer and cocktail destination.

With a vast selection of rotating taps, the beer list is always changing, featuring the best independent brewers from around Australia (with the occasional international). If hops aren’t your thing, the cocktail list packs plenty of personality, classic recipes reimagined with Freddie’s cheeky twist.

Freddie’s also knows how to keep weeknights interesting: Sh*t Trivia Tuesdays serve up laughs, weird facts, and the occasional questionable prize, Happy Hour runs daily with deals that make clock-off drinks dangerously easy and Bev & Burger Mondays is a combo deal worth loosening the belt for.

And while many venues wind down, Freddie’s winds up – the bar is open until 3am Thursday to Saturday, making it the perfect spot to kick on after other locals call it a night. Good beer. Good tunes. Nuff said.

STAMINA

LIVE MUSIC: will be hard techno and bounce all the way, the perfect soundtrack for the gritty underground space.

FAMOUS FOR: its iconic location beneath Flinders Street Station. Built in the late 1800s, the Banana Alley Vaults are a piece of the city’s history, named for the creepy-crawlies that were found in the banana crates that were shipped and loaded into them. Over the years, the space has been home to news agencies, fight clubs, and even, at one point, a 24-hour pie shop (‘pieteria’).

INFAMOUS FOR: There’s a teeny, tiny chance it may be haunted. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, the Banana Alley Vaults were left in neglect, and some nefarious deeds happened there. But hey, vibes!

Æ Melbourne has long fancied itself as the Berlin of Australia, and with Stamina set to open on 13 September, it may have another piece of evidence for the claim. Taking inspiration from the sprawling, industrial clubs found across Europe, Stamina is shaping up to be a techno capital.

Created by Ashby Projects, the team behind Nerve nightclub, the venue will be equipped with a cutting-edge sound system and an all-encompassing visual design (including a whopping 3km of LED lighting), promising world-class production in a heritage listed space. Spread across three rooms, there will be plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

Stamina will be open on Saturday nights only, hosting raves featuring both local and international DJs at the top of their game. The BMPs will be fast. The lights will be low. The goal is to fill a gap in the niche deep techno marketplace, giving eager punters the chance to experience something a little different in the heart of the CBD.

WHERE: 125 FITZROY ST, ST KILDA

OPEN: FRI–SAT 12PM–3AM / SUN 12PM–1AM MON–WED 3PM–1AM / THU 3PM–3AM

WHERE:

375 FLINDERS ST OPEN: SATURDAY NIGHTS

SECOND STORY STUDIOS

LIVE MUSIC: has really been taking off inside this multifaceted venue. It’s been quickly becoming an electronic hotspot, hosting shows featuring international techno talent and local gems alike.

FAMOUS FOR: Next Level Space, its vast 400-capacity room packed with semi-industrial charm. Chic yet simple, the venue can be easily converted to host the wedding, party or gig of dreams.

INFAMOUS FOR: the all-encompassing creative energy that resonates out of the space, making it easy to get distracted. With studios for fashion designers, actors, musicians and more, as well as workshop spaces that can be offices, healing centres and everything in between, it’s truly a mixed bag of vibes.

Æ What is Second Story Studios? It’s everything you ever asked for and more.

Basically, this Collingwood space is a mecca of creativity. Not only does it feature 10 studio spaces available for long or short term rent by makers and shakers of all stripes, but it’s also got a spirituality and wellness edge, featuring rooms lined with Himalayan pink salt lamps, Tibetan flags and oriental rugs for healing, meditation and prayer.

More recently, it’s been hosting some killer shows, blasting UK speed garage and bassline deep into the night. The space has been eyed up by promoters, who have made it a top choice for hosting emerging acts from the UK. With an open dancefloor and a prime inner north location, it offers a different, more curated feel than a traditional nightclub.

The venue is run by Micheal and Gem Akasha, who have worked diligently for more than a decade to convert the building, build community and throw some mad parties. Designed to be a space to come together and lean into uninhibited creativity, Second Story Studios may just be ushering in a new generation of Melbourne raving.

WHERE: 222 JOHNSON ST, COLLINGWOOD

OPEN: DURING EVENTS

BAXTER’S

LIVE MUSIC: is at the core of the Baxter’s philosophy. At the freshly-minted Brunswick Street location, they’re hosting free gigs from Tuesday to Sunday, giving you every reason to pop in and discover some amazing new local acts.

FAMOUS FOR: serving up the self-proclaimed “cheapest beer in Fitzroy”. I mean, $10 pints all day and night? Good luck finding a better deal than that (and please message us if you do).

INFAMOUS FOR: the worst beer hangovers in Fitzroy.

Æ Baxter’s has some new digs! The Fitzroy institution has moved, but worry not – only a few blocks. Last month, they ditched their old space at 302 Brunswick Street (as well as the “Lot” in their name) and reopened at 296 Brunswick Street. The move, while not big geographically, was big emotionally. If you’re a northside gig goer, you’ve definitely set foot in those hallowed halls, so it was a little bit sad to say goodbye. But forwards we must go!

The new space has retained all of the chaotically-decorated, neon glowy dive vibes of its predecessor, as well as the dedication to live music and cheap drinks. Disco balls and chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Old film photos and eclectic art pieces line the walls. Plus, there’s a plentiful beer garden, patiently waiting for warmed weather. It’s got a loved, lived in feel, despite only being open for a few weeks. What’s always been so great about Baxters is the diversity of its programming. Jazz, indie rock, acoustic, reggae, and pop – it doesn’t matter what kind of sounds you’re making, everyone is welcome to the stage. This makes it a reliable choice for anyone looking to absorb some live music on a weeknight. Free entry doesn’t hurt either. You know what they say – out with the old, in with the new. Stop by and give Baxter’s the housewarming it deserves.

WHERE: 296 BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY

Who Is The Sky?

Æ Imagine a world where My Apartment Is My Friend, A Door Called No talks (“Don’t open me, sir/ There is a reason I’m closed/ And no one can enter/ As everyone knows…”), “little crawdads” sing in nirvana and a Moisturizing Thing works way too well (“And when we go out they ask for ID/ It’s not always easy/ When you look like you’re three!” – welcome to Who Is The Sky?

The album title itself was derived from a “voice to text” David Byrne received, which was garbled from “Who is this guy?”

Members of Ghost Train Orchestra – a New York-based chamber ensemble – arranged this 12-song set. Byrne remains “ahead of the curve” and unpigeonholeable, delighting in the absurd.

Who Is The Sky? is blue-sky thinking manifested. Byrne’s latest collection of sonic experiments is instrumentally diverse, phantasmagorical and crammed with visual lingo that prompts movie reels to play out in the mind’s eye (we see Dr. Seuss on steroids).

Everybody Laughs (ft. his long-time collaborator St. Vincent) – Byrne’s first single in seven years – would make the perfect soundtrack for a conga line of euphoric Muppets. During the loping When We Are Singing, Byrne’s vocals leap and dive octaves. He even ee-aws a tune toward the song’s close.

My Apartment Is My Friend features playful instrumentation, güiro included; imagine Pee-wee Herman skipping in a field of plush multi-coloured gerberas – a wacky, childlike vibe.

The mariachi-inspired What Is The Reason For It? is elevated by triumphant brass fanfare. Don’t Be Like That offers some great advice on personal conduct, including, “Don’t say you do when you mean you don’t/ Don’t say you will when you know you won’t.”

Instrumentally, The Avant Garde creeps in like a pantomime villain. “I saw a woman in a leotard/ Now, I’m not sure how I feel about the avant garde…” – just one of the LOL-worthy lyrical moments in Byrne’s latest single (see also: “It doesn’t mean shit, it’s the avant garde”).

I’m An Outsider is more bonkers than Willy Wonka and like 12 songs in one: “I’m outside your mind and I’m tryna get in/ I’m standing out here, by your red velvet rope/ The bouncers all say, ‘Dude, you haven’t a hope.’”

Inspired by Rebecca Solnit’s 2014 essay collection (Men Explain Things To Me), She Explains Things To Me flips mansplaining on its head. “Mansplaining is usually unasked for,” the Talking Heads frontman clarified in the presser, “in this case I am the one asking.”

The Truth closes out the record with xylophone, kettle drums and lofty strings, serving as a reminder to choose fun over fear.

We can totally imagine Byrne and his cordless band executing complex, synchronised choreo and wheeling around the stage in formation like a marching band to this album. Bring on his upcoming Australian tour!

LABEL: MATADOR

RELEASE: 5 SEP

CHARLIE COLLINS

Nightwriter

Æ “If I don’t do this I need a therapist” –on Nightwriter’s opening title track, Charlie Collins acknowledges that songwriting is essential to her mental wellness.

The deceptively jaunty, upbeat Rock Bottom – which opens with an ambulance siren – finds Collins detoxing in a psych ward after surviving a drug overdose: “I was insane/ Mental headcase/ So they locked me up until I sobered up.”

Some of the demos for this heart-achingly raw record were sung into an answering machine while Collins was in rehab. “I’m so sure anxiety is present now that I am clean/ I’m facing the things I used to dread” – the softly strummed, reassuring I’m Alright concludes with one such voice recording.

Backed by banjo, acoustic guitar, drums, piano and bass (the latter two instruments played by none other than Neil Finn), The Last 48 Hours sees Collins moving towards self-compassion after many years spent numbing her trauma through self-medication (“Learning how to love myself and stay sober”).

Self-described “heartbreak banger” The Hardest Part navigates post-breakup bitterness: “Your friends say you’re fine/ I hope that’s a lie/ Just want you to feel the same way I do…”

Following the closing I’m In The Right Place, we hear someone (probably a journalist) asking Collins, “Do you have any long-term ambitions with your music?” She hesitates, “Um, no, I just wanna keep doing what I’m doing and if something happens, well, that’s really good.”

A harrowing listen, cushioned by Collins’ textured vocal delivery and emotionally resonant melodies, Nightwriter is a career-defining record. Here’s hoping the only highs Collins chases from now on are creative ones.

LABEL: ISLAND RECORDS RELEASE: OUT NOW

DAVID BYRNE

JENS LEKMAN

Songs For Other People’s Weddings

Æ “If you ever need a stranger to sing at your wedding, a last-minute choice, then I am your man,” Jens Lekman sang on one of his debut album tracks (2004). Although the Swede’s proposition was “meant to be a bit tongue-incheek”, requests for his services flooded in and an “accidental wedding singer” was born.

Songs For Other People’s Weddings – a companion piece to the book of the same name, co-written with David Levithan – is a narrative concept album with musical theatre potential.

Matilda Sargren was only meant to sing on the demos, but proved too perfect to replace. Nuptial-fit instrumentation abounds, occasionally overlaid with the joyous din of revellers.

“If anybody objects to this, speak now or shut your face…” – Lekman’s cheeky. He’s also a skilled whistler. A Tuxedo Sewn For Two describes one wedding’s two tuxedoed grooms, standing side-by-side at the urinal as they “struggle to zip their flies”.

Candy From A Stranger serves wedding inspo: “Wait, what was that pill you gavе to me?/ It tasted like hairspray/ And now the music’s in my veins…”

On A Pier, On The Hudson is a piano-house belter, with Lekman channeling Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor.

The 10-plus minute Wedding In Leipzig –with its fortissimo piano chords, hiccupy beat, soaring strings and spoken-word narrative – boasts a boppy, playful feel. Once that “doodoo-doo” section swoops in, we’re drowning in romantic bliss (think: Annie Lennox’s No More I Love Yous).

Lekman’s irreverent wedding songs are lovingly customised (eg. “He was Belgian and smelt of camomile and Camel Blue”), with bonus self-depricating LOLs (“I make a fortune from my streams on Spotify”). Don’t be put off by the wedding theme.

LABEL:

NINAJIRACHI

I Love My Computer

Æ Ninajirachi (aka Nina Wilson) previously told this scribe that she relishes scavenging for offcuts and imperfect textures within audio junk. A true innovator, she creates music for right this minute.

The girl EDM creator dedicates I Love My Computer to her instrument/musical collaborator of choice, which ensures she’s “always at the desk in the dark”. Wilson’s gone so far as to say, “I spend more time with [my computer] than any one person and I don’t know who I would be without it.”

“Anything is possible with fingers, eyes, a mouse and a screen” – Ninajirachi outlines her creative process during the opening salvo, London Song. This standout track’s sneaky, wonky intro intrigues (“I’ve never been to London/ But I’d go with you”). That bass-boosted drop, though! It’s badass (think: Charly by The Prodigy), but oh-so accessible thanks to a tuneful, Madonnaesque vocal hook.

Fuck My Computer – which sonically recreates a robot orgy – totally goes there: “I wanna fuck/ My computer/ ‘Cause no one in the world knows me better.”

Closing out with chiming bells and stardust sounds, CSIRAC (an ode to Australia’s first digital computer) is dark, chipmunk techno.

The keys-driven Infohazard, with its angelbot vocals (“In a dream/ On my screen…”), recalls a loss of innocence: while netsurfing, Baby Nina stumbled upon a snuff film she could never unsee.

“It sounds like high school front gate smoke in my face/ It sounds like dyed frayed high waist bought at Supré…” – Ninajirachi’s engrossing worldbuilding utilises words as well as crunchy, layered soundscapes.

Ninajirachi’s sophisticated sonic identity is augmented by endearing, cartoonish charm. Her international crossover potential is undeniable.

LABEL: NLV RECORDS RELEASE: OUT NOW

THE HIVES

The Hives Forever Forever The Hives

Æ The self-proclaimed “best live band on the planet” (if you’ve caught one of their shows, you already know), The Hives are renowned for their extravagantly immodest frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist’s hilarious banter, killer chant-along choruses, riffs for days, matchless sticksmanship and matching black-and-white stage outfits.

From the millisecond Enough Is Enough swaggers in, resplendent with Chris Dangerous’ pummelling beat, we’re nodding along with glee. Then Bad Call stomps in, pointing an accusatory finger at those among us who are prone to making poor choices.

Paint A Picture features show-offy mid-song tempo changes, its ritenuto choruses bringing The Living End’s Uncle Harry to mind. True to its title, O.C.D.O.D revels in Pelle’s unhinged vocal performance and instrumentation that conjures a red cordial-fuelled toddler on a rampage.

Amidst wailing sirens, The Hives supply caveman-like “hoo-ha!”s during the riotous Legalize Living. “Do you like rock music? You do now!” Almqvist states at Roll Out The Red Carpet’s conclusion.

They’ve been rocking out for 30 years now, having formed in their early teens, which makes The Hives one of the early-2000s garage-rock revival’s most enduring bands. When bassist Dr. Matt Destruction left The Hives due to health reasons in 2013, The Johan and Only stepped in. But the other four members are all OGs. And it’s fair to say the debonair Swedes found their sound and stuck to it, from album number two (2000’s Veni Vidi Vicious) onwards.

A time capsule explaining rock ’n’ roll to future generations simply must contain The Hives. All together now, “The Hives Forever! Forever The Hives!”

LABEL:

GIG GUIDE

SEPTEMBER 2025

THU 04 SEP

THE PEARLIES. SUPA LUCIA, MEZZANINE

Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $12.75.

THE BEARDS. ADAM PAGE Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $56.80.

UNDERGROUND

SOUNDS: END OF THE LINE

FT: Millhouse, N.Y.A, Reyno, Rozza, Unspec.lk Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. Free.

THE COSMIC CHRONICLES

The Round. Nunawading. 7pm. $33.

ROCK-A-BYE

BABY WITH WRONG WAY UP

Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre. Preston. 11am. $10.

FULLMOONJAYE.

INFRAGHOSTS, CAUSTIC GRIP

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm. $15.20.

‘SHIVER’ SINGLE LAUNCH: THOM JOHNSTON & APRIL. GARDINER, STAR JOCK

Bar Open. Fitzroy. 8pm. $22.50.

DRAG BINGO

FT: Max Drag Queen

The Beast. Brunswick East. 8pm. Free.

FATAI

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $43.35.

IAKI VALLEJO (RELAXED PERFORMANCE)

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 12pm. $10.

FIREFLY HORNS

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8pm. $40.

CHECKERBOARD

LOUNGE

Bar 303. Northcote. 8.30pm. $20.

JAGERMEISTER PRESENTS BUCK WILD

THURSDAYS

FT: No Motivation, Moksha, Nobody No Spirit Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

MICK PEALING, NICK CHARLES & THE LONG ROAD HOME

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $30.

SOUP ON TAP. DEAR JUDY, LALU

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $11.75.

MATTHEW IFIELD

Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $38.

LEWIS CIAVARELLA Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 5pm.

DIMENSIONS OF INCOMPREHENSIBILITIES

FT: Joe Talia + Scott McConnachie, Nat Grant + Helen Svoboda, Llara Goodall + Dave Brown Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $10.

DAKINI CUDDLE. THE SEEDING, SOCIAL STREET

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $30.

AL MATCOTT & THE FOREVER BAND.

CAHILL KELLY & THE ENCOUNTERS, AUNTY

Blue Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free.

FRI 05 SEP

DECADANCE

The Beast. Brunswick East. 8pm. HEAD BANGERS METAL & HEAVY ROCK PARTY

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 11pm. Free.

WAY DYNAMIC. EGGY, BABYCCINO John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $22.85. CAMMI KOL. XYLA, JACK PARAISO Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 6.30pm. $12 - 15.

SNAILGUN. EARTH CADET, 40TH PARALLEL Cactus Room. Thornbury. 8pm. $15. BORDERLINE Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $29.80.

THE STAMPS Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. $23.64.

LITTLEFOOT. RIBJAW, FUTURE TONGUES

Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $12.25.

CANTRIPS. DJ

NAVY BLUE RADIO, ELSIE, DJ O HONEY, JABULANI

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24 - 32.15.

GASHI

Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $79.

REELTOREEL X RESURGENCE

FT: IsGwan, Wax Thief. Bethany, Hendrix Ryan, Kiara Friend, LUBU

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 10pm. $26.52 - 32.13.

MALICY. THE ENGAGEMENT, MANTRA, ELYSIUM

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85.

GABRIEL DELICIOUS. RAW DEAL

Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm.

PIG DESTROYER. WORMROT, TONGUE SCUM

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $80.10.

A NIGHT WITH TINA: A TINA TURNER

DRAG CABARET

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $45.

SKID STEER.

CHAMP RUBY, ACHEY PEACE

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $16.35.

GOOD PASH

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 9pm.

HANNAH PRICE

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. Free.

KIRI T

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $81.10 - 101.50.

CARBON

FT: Jordan Maro, TeeDallas, Daug, B-Side, Kiko, Eva Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 11.59pm. $21.42.

AXIS MUNDI

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm.

SUNAMI + OUTTA POCKET

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 6.30pm. $55. THE BEARDS. ADAM PAGE Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. THE LINCOLN RAMSAY TRIO

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. BLOOM. INERTIA, POST HEAVEN Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $34.90.

THE SKA VENDORS Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38.

BLOOMFIELD FESTIVAL 2025

FT: Bad//Dreems, Phantastic Ferniture, Adi Toohey, Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys, Chimers, more Buangla. VIC. 2pm. $189.

SABATON. AMARANTHE

Margaret Court Arena. Melbourne. 7pm. $70 - 179.90.

THE WHITLAMS WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $89.90.

THE SHIFT: AN ADJUSTMENT OF THOUGHT

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $30.

CIRCUIT BREAKER Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

SAT 06 SEP

HAYBAX TRANSPORT

Public Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. Free. CUBA!

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $69. FREDDY CRABS

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7.30pm. $34.70. DROP CITY. THE EARTHMEN, CORDRAZINE Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $56.80. THE SLINGERS. THINK ABOUT YOU, RUPERT BULLARD Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $38.76.

A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS WITH WATTY THOMPSON & FRIENDS

Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre. Preston. 6.45pm. $40.

SLEAZY LITTLE THING

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 11pm. Free. SHAMROCK TENORS Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $75.07.

QUEEN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $69.90.

LILIANA Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 9pm.

STEEZY WALRUS AFTER PARTY FT: Tofu, Diggins, Icey, Italo Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. Free.

ALTA FALLS Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $33.15 - 89.80.

COAST ARCADE. FRANJAPAN, MORE Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $12 - 18.50.

THE SONGWRITING PRIZE 2025: MELBOURNE

SEMI FINAL

FT: Angus Robb, Bel Kil, Elkie Kershaw, Empress + Aces, Leticia Keane, Lily Jones, Loz Irwin-Ray, Mareya, Naked Neighbours, Ollie Howlett, Rhian Aoun, Ryan Oliver, Sadie Mustoe, Taylah Evans, Wasteman Shotkickers. Thornbury. 6.30pm. $23.45.

THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION. FLY!, SICK FIZZ, THE DIVE BOMBS Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.45pm. $22.95. ENKI Bar 303. Northcote. 3pm. $20.

ANTON DELECCA QUARTET

FT: Emma Gilmartin Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $45.

YACHT ROCK REVIVAL

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40.

TTT-TURBO + DE PORSAL Gem Bar. Collingwood. 4pm. Free.

THE DELVENES. BMA

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

JEMMA CHER

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38.

BLOOD ON MY HANDS. SEVEN HELLS, NOWHERE2RUN, CUTTHROAT, ENDS IN TRAGEDY

Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $21.42. LINCOLN RAMSAY TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm.

EVOLUTION EVENTS PRESENTS

EVOLVE BOILER

360 VOL.2

FT: Avi 8, Chapter

V, Cybergore, Deezl, Devin Wild, Kruelty, So Juice, The Smiler, Unresolved, Vasto Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 4.45pm. $157.91 - 188.49.

ORIN AYA OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY MELBOURNE

FT: AVAN7, Doubkore, Spinal Fusion, Sharkra, Miss Jade, Megapixel, Rizon, Soul Alignment, Stewi, Zephir

The Industrique. Coburg North. 2pm. $35.

UMLAUT

Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $33.80.

THE ACCÜSED A.D.

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $54.40.

EISHAN ENSEMBLE Hawthorn Arts Centre. Hawthorn. 7.30pm. $36 - 45.

SPEED BUMPS. LAST QUOKKA, THE RARTEL, HANDGRENADE HEARTS, NAH Old Bar. Fitzroy. 7pm. $19. THE LINDA RONSTADT SHOW

FT: Lisa Mio, Wild Dreamers

Club Altona. Altona. 8pm. $30.

THE WHITLAMS WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $89.90.

ANDREW DE SILVA Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 4pm. Free.

THU 11 SEP

WILLIE J’S 6V6S Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. Free. THE SYNCOPATORS Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $38.

BRANT BJORK TRIO

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $68.80.

HOT CHICKS

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 9pm. $29.38. WAAX. WORM

GIRLZ, CHEAPSKATE, SICK VISOR

Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $39.99.

SUNSHINE TIP + LUCKY DIP

Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

HAMISH BLOOM.

CLAUDE, DAISY

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. $12.25 - 15.68.

CUT COPY. WRONG WAY UP, MILO

EASTWOOD Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7.30pm.

JOHN HENDERSON

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm.

JAGERMEISTER PRESENTS

BUCK WILD

THURSDAYS

FT: Spillway, Romaeo Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

BENJAMIN ATTICHE

Trio Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm.

KATY KIRBY

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $43.96.

ALISHA.K. AUNTY

BLUE, GITHMI Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

‘R WE OK?’

SUPPORT ACT FUNDRAISER

FT: Terra Rouge. Earth Cadet, Rivera Workers Club. Fitzroy. 7pm. $17.85 - 23.50.

CHERIE CURRIE

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $89.90.

CHRIS AITKEN: A DIALOGUE OF LOVE

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $25.

HOWLING HAIL FIENDS

FT: Howling Mountain. Hail Freya, Caifein The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $13.30.

GUY BLACKMAN

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $24.

DEEP SOUTH

BRASS 8 BAND Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $35.

FRI 12 SEP

YOUR MOTHERS DISGUSTING WINDOW. ESP MAYHEM, STRIBORG, DREALM Mamma Chen’s. Footscray. 7pm. $15. THE KITTYHAWKS. SANNY VELOO, DANGER DEN, SPILL KIT

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $17.85.

BISTROTEQUE

FT: Tom More & Mike York, Casey, more Quadraphonic Club. Brunswick. 9pm. $15 - 20.

OTHELLO fortyfivedownstairs. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $35 - 49.

TOUCH

The Round. Nunawading. 8pm. $46.

DOWNSTAIRS DISCO

FT: Steely Ann Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 9pm. Free.

SWEET TALK Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $28.56.

ELO & THE SHINKICKS. CASS AWARE, MONROE Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $15.85. THE TERRIFYING LOWS. ECHO SOCIAL CLUB

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 9pm. MAMA KIN SPENDER. BABY VELVET Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

GRAVEMIND. BODY PRISON, MELTING, BITTER KIND

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

THE WITCHING HOUR

FT: Ava McDermott. Hairclip

Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8.30pm. $15 - 20.

MAYONNAISE. KIM TRINIDAD

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $85.

B!TE

FT: Anyo, Eva, Fosters, Mimosa, Rubisco, Walla C Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 11.59pm. $21.42.

BAKERS EDDY Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $33.90.

THE BEASTS PRESENT THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘BLACK MILK’ BY BEASTS OF BOURBON

FT: Cash Savage, The Johnnys, Ezra Lee, Dave Graney & Helen Rose

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $109.90.

DASTE. Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

END OF WINTER BLUES PARTY

FT: Benny & the Flybyniters. Kid James, Mister Sippy Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $32.

LAHGO

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $15 - 30.

ECHOES OF THE 90’S

FT: House To Crowded, Paranoid Android, Evenflow

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 8pm. $43.90.

THE CINEMATICS

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

FUÁ DA TITA Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm.

BLUE MODE

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm.

CAMILLA BURROWS

SINGS THE ELLA FITZGERALD & OSCAR PETERSON SONGBOOK

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $45.

A VERY E-MOTIONAL DECADE: CRJ CULT CONVENTION

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $5.83 - 11.65.

WITCH SPIT. HAIL

MARY JANE, DADDY ISSUES

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8.30pm. $16.35.

SPEEDING VEHICLE

Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. PEAK PARK. CHARLIE NEEDS BRACES, MILOU MOON

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $25.

FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK: CHRIS G LEBON & THE C’EST SI BON BAND Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm.

EARTHLESS. STEPMOTHER, GRIM RHYTHM Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $69.90.

MAYDAY

PARADE. JACK’S MANNEQUIN, THE HOME TEAM

Margaret Court Arena. Melbourne. 6pm. $109.90. THE GNOMES. W.O.M.B.A.T, THE PEARLIES, FISH CATCHER

John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $22.85. SARAH BLASKO

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $69.

SAT 13 SEP

CHARMING SONS

Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. Free. TAXIRIDE WITH TTSAR

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 6.30pm. $40. K-NEXT 2025 Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7pm. $35.

BUNJIL & PALIYANG Northcote Town Hall. Northcote. 7.30pm. $30. ILL NINO. ADEMA Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $89.90.

PETER BAECKER IS OWN PRISCILLA

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm. $33.43. CLUB WELL PRESENTS: UNANNOUNCED LINEUP

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 11pm. Free. MELANCOLIA. THY ART IS MURDER Revolver Upstairs. Prahran. 7pm. $29.90. METHO. ARSE, WHIP!, SPEEDING VEHICLE, KRISTOL PISSTOL Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm. $24 - 27.

CHESS: THE MUSICAL The Round. Nunawading. 7.30pm. $56.

EVELYN YUEN. CURLY & THE FRINGE, MINHY, JOANNE FONG Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $22.95. JODY WISTERNOFF Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $64.77.

AMPHI X SPACECASTCREATIVITY: INTERWOVEN, INTERTWINED, INTERCONNECTED FT: Bex, Pjenné, DJ Earl Grey, Shannon Powell, Manusia Menari, Maggz, Amphi Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 5pm. $21.95 - 54.80.

MINI WATERS. SKINK TANK, THINK ABOUT YOU

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $23.45.

JOSHUA BATTEN Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 7pm. Free. CLASSIC KIDS: ELIZA’S ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURES

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 10.30am. $28.

SKYSCRAPER STAN. JULES SHELDON Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8.30pm. $23.50.

TEENY TINY STEVIES

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 10am. $35 - 39. LOT56 The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

SAM O’HALLORAN TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm. HALFWAY.

WALKERVILLE, MATT DAVIS

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. $44.13 - 46.41.

MIND TO MULCH. FLOWER FIELD

FOLLY, INTERNET ROMANCE Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $17.35.

HELLZ4ROCKIN’ FEST

FT: The Vendettas, Riot After Midnight, Karly Jewell, Eat The Damn Orange, The Dreadful Tides, more The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 3pm. $28.85. BERNADETTE NOVEMBRE. SUPA

LUCIA, OZERGUN, BEN MASTWYK Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 7pm. $24.

CLANCY WALKER. LACKY BAND

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 3.30pm. $18.10.

MAGIC MILE + ROCKIN’ PELMETS Old Bar. Fitzroy. 3.30pm. Free.

FOLK BITCH

TRIO. KATY KIRBY, MILLY STRANGE Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm.

RIFF MANIA

FT: Bench Cup, Backbone Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $23.30. Nardia Presents:

‘THE WOMEN OF JAZZ AND SOUL’

FT: Iseula

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9.30pm. $45. NOAH PETERS Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 2pm.

LITERALLY + PAWN & CO

SATURDAYS PRESENTS MARCO LYS Pawn & Co. Prahran. 9pm. $26.66. FLEETWOOD MAX

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $40. SARAH BLASKO

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7.30pm. $69.

THU 18 SEP

COLOUR AND LIGHT: THE ART OF SONDHEIM

Theatre Works. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $55. THE KIFFNESS Northcote Theatre. Northcote. 7pm. $69.90.

JOHNSTONE/ NEAL/SPICER & TIM STOCKER: THE ORGAN COOKBOOK

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 8pm. $45. THE ‘WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU’ JAM

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8pm. BACKYARD STORIES

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $28.15.

NANA’S PIE. JOAN & THE GIANTS, SEB SZABO, ROD COOTE

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 6.30pm. $15.85.

DRAG BINGO

FT: Max Drag Queen

The Beast. Brunswick East. 8pm. Free. PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS: NORTHSIDE V SOUTHSIDE FINALS

FT: The Portals, The Ripoffs, No Hat No Play, The Thornberries, Parental Guidance, The 2nd Imprestons Corner Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $37.35. AFRICAN AUSTRALIANS COMEDY GALA

FT: Ash Fils-Aime, Joe White, Yeluselmi, Sam Gebreselassie, Akwasi Ose-Tutu

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $33.15.

BEST EVER FOOTY & ROCK TRIVIA

PIE NIGHT

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 6.30pm. $50.

JAGERMEISTER PRESENTS BUCK WILD

THURSDAYS

FT: Sheep Dog, Killer Robots From The Future, Gangrene Dream Bendigo Hotel. Collingwood. 7.30pm.

TONIGHT ALIVE

Howler. Brunswick. 7.30pm.

TURKISH POP ROCK

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $25.

THE BOATMEN. LUCY HARRINGTON, SWANDIVE Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm. Free. THE CORDUROYS + RIVERA

Bar 303. Northcote. 7.30pm.

TETUSIANS. ANNUAL LEAF, BILLYCART

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $10.

MILLY STRANGE. DOGWORLD, TALK SHOW

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $24.

ANIMALS AS LEADERS. CAR BOMB

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $89.90 - 169.90.

STEPHEN MCINTYRE PLAYS

SCHUMANN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 7pm. $50.

FRI 19 SEP

REB FOUNTAIN

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $40.40.

COLOUR AND LIGHT: THE ART OF SONDHEIM Theatre Works. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $55.

MELBOURNE BACH CHOIR: CARMINA BURANA

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $55. THE ROYAL MOTOWN REVUE

FT: Nardia, Paul Slattery Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9.30pm. $45. TONIGHT ALIVE

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. MYXI BUN. LÂLKA, R.EM.EDY, CHASING SHADOWS (DJ) Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $17.85 - 23.50.

JIMI THE KWEEN: (UN)RELEASED

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 8pm. $28.56 - 43.86. DJ MARKY Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $44.37 - 54.57.

CHI WOW WAH CITY: THE DOORS TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE

FT: Uone - The Doors Tribute, Tijuana Cartel, Luke McD, Pixelton, Misa, Mess Electric, Ayabloom, The Huntress, Dulce, more Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 8pm. $32.15 - 53.55.

RAW BRIT

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $40.

MISSUS JONES: AMY WINEHOUSE TRIBUTE Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 8pm. $69.50.

THE MARY WALLOPERS. DRUNK MUMS

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $99.90. CONVENIENCE STORE. LUCY LAMB, HAMISH BLOOM & OBE BRAMALLWHITE, SPENSER Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85.

COMEDY AT THE SHIRLEY

FT: Celia Pacquola, Josh Earl, Noah Szto, more Shirley Burke Theatre. Parkdale. 7.30pm. $30.

ROCK N ROLL PUNK BLOW OUT

FT: The Stripp, Strike Outs, The Dark Clouds, Drano Hotshots

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 7pm. $16.35.

JIMEOIN: PANDEMONIUM Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $59.90.

TENDERHOOKS. LONI RAE THOMSON Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm. $8–10. BAUHAUS BURLESQUE

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $37.48.

TIMOTHY FRANKLIN & THE BAND WITHOUT A NAME

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm. MUDBATH. THE PEARLIES, KEYO ROSE’S FLYING CIRCUS, VARUNI Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm.

BEACH BOYS & BRIAN WILSON CELEBRATION

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $27.05.

FATE GEAR. VICTORIA K

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $52.43.

DOWN & OUT

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $23.45.

THE SEDUCEAPHONES. GUSTO GUSTO

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $28.15.

LINCOLN RAMSAY TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm.

ZELA MARGOSSIAN QUINTET

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $30.

MERCI, MERCI. MATILDA PEARL

John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $22.85.

SAT 20 SEP

ANDREW SWANN

JUMP FUNK COMBO TRANSPORT

Public Bar. Melbourne. 5pm. Free.

OMNISUTRA

ANUBIS: ANPU

The Open Space. Abbotsford. 6.30pm. $45. GEORGE CLINTON WITH PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC

Palais Theatre. St Kilda. 8pm. $104.90 - 154.90.

WES FEST 22: THE FINALE

FT: Sunflower Jam, Ania Reynolds, Rosario de Marco, Nir Tsfaty, Gift Horse, Suzie So Blue, John Henderson, JimCo, Tim Scanlan & Mana Okubo Wesley Anne. Northcote. 3pm.

BIG LEAGUE + HOLY MOSES

HEARTACHE

Retreat Hotel. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $17.95 - 21.36. GRYFFIN. JACKNIFE Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $91.50.

PONDA

FT: DJ JNETT, DJ Matab, Rami Imam, Boyd Kelly Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $21.95 - 32.90.

AUSTYN JANE + LILY RIZETTI

Old Bar. Fitzroy. 3.30pm. Free.

GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK PROJECT

FT: Emma Gilmartin, Nick Haywood

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6.30pm. $45.

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

The Round. Nunawading. 8pm. $55.

MOTLEY JAZZ JAM

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 7.30pm.

ALERA

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7pm. $33.15.

HASSALL Shotkickers. Thornbury. 7.30pm. $19.90.

S:BAHN + SUDDEN DEBT

Merri Creek Tavern. Northcote. 8pm.

KAIYAH MERCEDES. KASH, MAC & THE STEEZE

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 1pm. $22.95. COMBICHRIST

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $54.95.

NINA COLADA & PROPHECY

GIRL - WE HATE ATTENTION: THE EXPERIENCE

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $35.70.

THE NORTHERN FOLK

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm.

CHARLIE PITTMAN Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

UADA. MALIGNANT AURA, THRALL Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $69.90.

MUDRAT Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $18.40.

NAOMI DIANE. THE RAYESARE, LINA Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $18.

SHEPPARTON AIRPLANE. BAD BANGS, REALITY WINNER

John Curtin Hotel. Carlton. 8pm. $33.45.

WE’RE RIDING WITH THE KINGS

Memo Music Hall. St Kilda. 7pm. $29.

PROBLEM GREEN. THE ANTICS, MORE Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8pm. $15.

SHERRI PARRY

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

THE RUOK BIG BASH

FT: SWIMSTATE, Knight Rider, Bigger Boot, No Turns, Friends In The Basement, 1AM:SUN, Caoimhe, Ronan Love Band

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 5pm. $23.75.

ECHOES OF FLAMENCO: PACO LARA & PAUL GEORGE (TIJUANA CARTEL)

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $50.

GARY EASTWOOD TRANSPORT

Public Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. Free.

THE GET UP KIDS

Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $76.50.

BUNJIL & PALIYANG

Northcote Town Hall. Northcote. 7.30pm. $30.

AN EVENING WITH... DAMI IM Clocktower Centre. Moonee Ponds. 7.30pm. $57.50.

NOT DROWNING, WAVING + GEORGE

TELEK - TABARAN

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 8pm. $69.

THU 25 SEP

M HUNCHO Festival Hall. West Melbourne. 8pm. $111.01.

COLOUR AND LIGHT: THE ART OF SONDHEIM

Theatre Works. St Kilda. 7.30pm. $55. AN EVENING ON BROADWAY Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $70.

THE BIG IDEA – 10 YEARS OF RUBIKS COLLECTIVE

Melbourne Recital Centre. Southbank. 6pm. $37.

RENNIE PEARSON: TRADITIONAL CELTIC MUSIC

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 8pm. $34.20.

ODD MOB

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm. $79.90.

EDAN

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $39.

SCRIPT JAM The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 6.30pm. Free.

THE EMPTY THREATS Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 7.30pm. $16.85 - 28.05.

SWIM

Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. $54.90.

REECE MASTIN

Workers Club. Fitzroy. 8pm. $39.05.

HONK. ELLY MCK & THE UNBELIEVERS

Gem Bar. Collingwood. 8.30pm. $13.

O & THE MO Old Bar. Fitzroy. 8pm. $28.60.

JOAN & THE GIANTS

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 9pm.

WAREHOUSE3000 PRESENTS DJ HMC

Howler. Brunswick. 7pm. $28.56 - 44.37.

DALLAS CRANE. THE FAUVES Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8.30pm. $65.95.

CHITRA. CLOVER BLUE

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8pm. $29.10.

BUTTERED LOAF

Bar 303. Northcote. 8pm. $20.

JOHN HENDERSON

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 7pm.

SAMMY LUKA’S SUNDOWN BAND. JASMIN ADRIA, CLEMENTINE, DJ ZAZA

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $12.75. THE DARYL MCKENZIE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

FT: Emma Gilmartin

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 7.30pm. $45.

AWAY FROM NOW + HORSELL COMMON. FAUX DEFEATED

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 7pm. $34.95.

THE CHANTOOZIES Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $35.

FRI 26 SEP

AN EVENING ON BROADWAY

Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne). Melbourne. 7.30pm. $70.

KI/KI

The Wool Store. West Footscray. 3pm.

DEZ CORTEZ

Wax Music Lounge. Melbourne. 8pm. $10.95 - 21.95.

DOPPLERHAUS. BOGGLE, ECHO SOCIAL CLUB, RAINBOW’S LIBRARY

Grace Darling Hotel. Collingwood. 6.30pm. $15 - 20.

PIERRE JAQUINOT

TRIO

Wesley Anne. Northcote. 6pm. THE SMITH STREET BAND

Hotel Esplanade (aka The Espy). St Kilda. 7.30pm. $54.60.

DAFT WEEKND

Prince Bandroom. St Kilda. 7pm. $39.

PETER BIBBY

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 8pm. $28.60.

CARMERIA. THE STRANGER, VICTORIA K, ANA Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $29.99.

THE NOT-SO-BIGBAND: ALL THINGS NINTENDO

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 6pm. $45.

AL MATCOTT

Lulie Tavern. Abbotsford. 9pm.

THE BEATLES

LEGACY

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $40.

DOLE MANCHILD. ZERO CITY, GARDINER

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $17.85.

EMO NEVER SLEEPS: DIVORCED DAD (AND MUM)

AROCK NIGHT #3

Stay Gold. Brunswick. 11pm. $25.

THE NORTHERN FOLK

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm.

ODD MOB

Max Watt’s. Melbourne. 7pm.

SWIM Forum Melbourne. Melbourne. 7pm. KING MISSILE. ANDY BURNS, WÖØLWORTHS\\ FLUSHOT

Northcote Social Club. Northcote. 8.30pm. $54.20.

CLEOPATRICK Corner Hotel. Richmond. 8pm. $61.90. SYSTEM OF A DON’T + KILLING IN THE DAME OF Cherry Bar. Melbourne. 8pm. $17.48.

TEMPLE OF GROOVE

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.

SAT 27 SEP

GARY EASTWOOD

Transport Public Bar. Melbourne. 11am. Free.

HYDRA: THE AUSTRALIAN TOTO SHOW

Bird’s Basement. Melbourne. 6pm. $35. THE SHUFFLE CLUB

Paris Cat Jazz Club. Melbourne. 9.30pm. $45. SAM O’HALLORAN TRIO

Edinburgh Castle Hotel. Brunswick. 8pm.

SEVEN POUND HALO. STAR JOCK, JADED STATE, CASAWARE

The Leadbeater Hotel. Richmond. 7pm. $17.85. The Workers Club presents

2025 AFL GRAND FINAL Workers Club. Fitzroy. 11am. AMBY DOWNS. BLOOD OF A POMEGRANATE, CIKCYKA

Shotkickers. Thornbury. 8pm. $18.35 - 20.

THE BIG HOO HAA!

The Motley Bauhaus. Carlton. 8.30pm. $30.39. THE RESIDENCY

FT: Antwin, Colette, Micheál, Zalina

The Toff In Town. Melbourne. 10.30pm. $12.24 - 17.34.

DOUBLE OPA

FT: Opa Bato!, Estudiantina of Melbourne

Brunswick Ballroom. Brunswick. 8.30pm. $43.96.

HOUSEWIFE’S CHOICE SOUND SYSTEM

FT: Anitra, Bellyas, Miss Fee, Saoko Collective The Beast. Brunswick East. 8pm. Free.

RESENTER. CLOUD ICE 9, MINDRACE, WORLD SICK

Bergy Bandroom. Brunswick. 8pm. $22.95. DREGG. GRAVITATE, AURATEQUE

Howler. Brunswick. 8pm. $29.90.

THE PEPTIDES

The Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar. North Melbourne. 1pm. Free.

JUMPIN’ JACK JORDAN

The Thornbury Local. Thornbury. 8pm.